robertjtilley

After watching "The American," I have put together a scenario for an exciting sequel, which I would like to share with other movie fans and IMDb readers. It goes something like this (First par might contain a spoiler, although such is the total confusion of the film's ending that it might not):

Jack (Edward, or whatever his true name is) actually survives that apparently fatal gunshot wound (thereby clearing up the ambiguity of the final scene of the first film.) Nursed back to health by the local prostitute Clara, he's soon again running up and down those narrow, deserted streets of Castello del Monte, calling in as usual for a cup of coffee with the locals in the town café. He's also soon strong enough for more romps in bed, with lots of cunnilingus and perhaps some anal sex now that the censors allowed the suggestive scenes of the first movie to pass muster. She, however, is still plying her old trade with the local peasants—and there lies the seed of the disaster that befalls the lovers. Jack is so busy at his old trade of assembling precision weapons from bits and pieces trawled from the junk lying around in the local car repair shop that he foolishly forgets one of the first rules when whooping it up with whores. Never, ever go down on a prostitute. Heavens above, this chap has been around. But so has she—some of her clients were probably enjoying sexual congress with goats before she took up residence in the village. Before long, he's sitting in the consulting room of the local doctor and hears the bad news that he has a nasty STD. And it's fatal. Cut to scenes of Jack's funeral in the mountain village that served as his home for such a short time. But that's not the final, arresting scene of this powerful movie. The final credits roll up over a scene of the local priest, who tried so unsuccessfully to save Jack's soul in the first movie, now sitting in the doctor's consulting room....

George Clooney could surely be persuaded to accept the star role again, on the conditions that he probably demanded for the first film: an exotic European locale and the opportunity to get his hands as often as possible on the voluptuous breasts of his young co-star Violante Placido. If Clooney's too busy, Jack Nicholson might be interested. Or even Woody Allen?

Did I read right? This series was ditched by a US network? Talk about a prophet unrecognized in his own country. "Smith" is US film-making at its best--tightly written, filmed with panache, great characterization (particularly Ray Liotta), haunting but understated score. Great stuff--and I'm hooked. The concept of a family man (Liotta) leading a double life combining a normal domestic routine, a boring job and a criminal sideline is original and dramatically daring but it works wonderfully, thanks to the delicate interplay between Liotta and his screen wife (Virginia Madsen, whose ode to the vine in "Sideways" belongs in a compendium of the best modern prose). Thank goodness a discerning distributor(Cinemax) picked up "Smith," patted him on the back and sent him off to Asia, for the entertainment of us benighted exiles.