Both Entertainment and Art

I recently rented The American, a George Clooney movie about an assassin who declares that he is on his last assignment. The movie has a very slow pace and little dialogue. It's not your typical movie about an assassin! Instead of watching him kill people or set up a plan or really talk to anyone about anything, you watch him in his day-to-day loneliness. The film is a character study of a very professional, talented man who is also very lonely.

What was remarkable to me about this film was how the acting (without speaking) and editing told the story. I didn't need to hear Clooney say he was lonely and wanted out of his life; I could see it in his eyes. (I swear at one point his eyes were so big he looked like Puss in Boots from the Shrek movies.) I didn't need to be told that he was highly skilled; I got to see it in montages of him assembling a weapon from scratch. Every shot was framed beautifully, and it flowed together smoothly. The editing created the pace, and the pace told the story.

I'm certain many people would not like this film. "It was boring!" "No action!" But for anyone who truly enjoys great acting, fluid editing and beautiful cinematography, this is a great film. I was riveted. And trust me, I fall asleep easily these days, so this says a lot!

I can't encourage you enough to watch films that might be out of the ordinary. Sure the top two films this week were an Adam Sandler movie and a 3D Justin Bieber experience that I'm sure will change your life. But is there something else you could go see that is both art and entertainment?