Classic Clooney cool

THE mere mention of George Clooney's name is enough to make most women swoon like prepubescent schoolgirls. His distinguished looks and seductive drawl ignite a fire in their hearts and, all too often, it's easy to forget that his success is based on more than the way he looks.

Above all else, Clooney is a man with a great gift for acting and thanks to his inherent 'likeability'; he can make even the most depraved character appear endearing. Whatever role he assumes, he brings to it a sense of charm and style that is distinctly Clooney.

In this movie, his skills are really put to the test and his unique portrayal of his character, Jack, is what gives the story its edge.

To set the scene, Jack (Clooney) is an assassin, one of the best in the business, but when an assignment in Sweden doesn't end the way he planned, he decides that his next job will be his last. You can understand why he wants out of the business, because even though he's making a killing at, well, killing, he knows there is more to life than death.

In a bid to get away from it all, Jack heads to the Italian countryside where he takes refuge in a small town and takes the time to enjoy the finer things in life for a change. Espresso, fine pastries and scenic beauty are just the thing to distract him ... for a while at least. He knows that sooner or later, the people he left behind in Sweden will be hot on his trail and rather than obsess about it, he exudes the classic Clooney cool that we all know and love.

While trying hard to lay low Jack gets a job offer from his contact to build a clever piece of weaponry for another assassin. Meanwhile, he meets an assortment of interesting characters including a priest who somehow senses how haunted he is by his former life as an assassin (maybe he can hear the skeletons trying to get out of the proverbial closet?). Their relationship is pivotal to the movie and the on-screen chemistry between them is one of my favourite aspects of the film.

However, my favourite part of the film comes when Jack meets Clara, a beautiful young woman who is smart, sexy, savvy and oh yeah, she's a prostitute. But does that little speed bump get in the way of them falling in love? No, it just serves to make the relationship all the more interesting to watch. But, by stepping out of the shadows together, they run the risk of tempting fate ... classic stuff!

This movie is fresh, sleek and effortlessly oozes charm. What I loved is that (besides Clooney), there is nothing American about this movie. It's an intelligent thriller that deviates from the archaic conventions of the genre (which Hollywood has done to death). The cinematography in this film is also worth noting, it manages to capture the intrinsic beauty of Italy and juxtapose it against a more sinister backdrop.

Clooney gets top marks for his fantastic performance, he's entertaining, smart and much more than that, he's completely believable.

Showing in Cineco, Seef I and Saar Cineplex