American Star

I'm not sure why this has a low rating. It's actually very well shot, the acting is very good, and while slow it's correctly paced for the genre.

The story is pretty rudimentary but it's handled well. The director does a great job framing the scenes and the setting is really beautiful.

This isn't an action movie so I guess the low ratings are from people who expected a man in his 70s to be doing Jason Statham level fight scenes?

It's a hitman story and it's a good one. The villain is played well too and the story does crash together at the end in an interesting way.

If you like hitman movies and appreciate slower paced, character driven and building stories you'll likely enjoy this.

Beautifully shot film with a great slow arc to a harsh climax.

Ian mcshane delivers a very understated performance but that's the point of his character, a man who shouldn't be noticed too much but can't help interacting with fellow islanders.

It reminds me of The Hit with Tim Roth, Terence Stamp and John Hurt.

The scenery is stunning, the performances are all brilliant, and a soothing score fills the film nicely.

Don't watch if you want a good paced film where lots happen in quick succession.

The female co-star is fantastic in her role and oozes charm when around mcshane.

A really great film, and one I'll watch again.

Two bits of trivia for you. 1. Ian McShane is one of those rare actors who has never given a bad performance. 2. The Canary Islands are, geologically, not islands but mountain tops. Once, long ago, when sea levels were lower, there was a civilization there. The reason for this trivia? Although McShane has never given a bad performance, he does occasionally take parts that are less than his due. Arguably, this is one of them. And, two, unless you succumb to the hypnotic delight of chillin' on the island (and many of you will indeed succumb!), this meandering and moody film may not be for you. It is literally 10 full minutes before we have actual dialog. To say the pace is slow is like saying water is wet. There is indeed some action in the Third Dramatic Act but, in all honesty, by then you will have absolutely decided whether or not this film is for you. And voted, accordingly, with your keyboard. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

If you have a short attention span, hate great cinematography, don't understand nuance..can't abide beautiful scenery..have no interest in the combined complexities of human relationships coupled with random synchronicity..if you also hate nor have the intellectual capacity for nuance nor well observed subtitles..if you also have very little capacity for understanding human emotion and are devoid of compassion..if you cannot suspend disbelief..if your cinematic diet does not extend beyond soda and popcorn and that that is all the nourishment and sustenance you require in your consumption of film then this piece is not for you.

I loved it.

Wilson is an aging assassin recently arrived on Fuerteventura. After discovering that his hit has left the island, he decides to stay and relax, ostensibly until the target returns. Waiting and wandering, Wilson befriends Gloria, a bartender, and finds he has a connection with Max, a young boy staying at his resort. However, the arrival of Ryan, a figure from Wilson's past, makes it clear that he has broken his cardinal rule: never get attached.

Directed by Gonzalo López-Gallego, 'American Star' is a reserved thriller telling a familiar tale- but telling it well. Nacho Faerna's screenplay relies on silence, as much as dialogue, to further the narrative, and is an effective character study about a man past his prime, struggling to find something worthwhile left in a violent life. It is a subtle, quiet film, at times reminiscent of Jean-Pierre Melville's 'Le Samourai' or- perhaps more so- Stephen Frears' 'The Hit'.

Like Frears' film, the central character is a world weary assassin who begins to question himself while on his latest job. Similarly, both characters are reticent- in Frears' case, John Hurt's Braddock- though not without humour or emotion. The subplot involving Max is particularly heartfelt and well-handled, verging on the cloying at times, but not getting there. Building up to a memorable, surprising conclusion, the narrative packs a punch.

As does José David Montero's cinematography. As cool and clean as the central character, Montero's assured work complements the narrative, capturing the beauty and stark isolation of Fuerteventura. He makes excellent use of close-ups and tracking shots, compounding the suspense and tension of proceedings, while letting audiences peek into the minds of the characters; seemingly reading their thoughts through their expressions.

Moreover, Óscar Sempere's minimalist production design is striking, making Wilson's world feel cold and harsh. Leire Orella's muted costume design contributes both to the characters and the mood of the piece, while the score- from Remate- adds a quiet power and pathos to proceedings. Additionally, the film is well-edited, and rockets along at a brisk pace, though never seems rushed; feeling to be the perfect length at an hour and 47 minutes

Ian McShane stars as Wilson, opposite Nora Arnezeder as Gloria, Oscar Coleman as Max and Adam Nagaitis as Ryan. McShane delivers a masterclass in understatement, and is utterly compelling, creating in Wilson someone to root for. With deft, he displays the character's complexity and vulnerability, sharing an easy chemistry with Arnezeder. She makes Gloria- who is, to be fair, a little underwritten- interesting and sympathetic, while Coleman and Nagaitis are both excellent as the young Max and Ryan, respectively. In addition, Fanny Ardant does fine work in the all too small role of Gloria's mother, while the talents of Thomas Kretschmann are wasted entirely in a walk-on part shorter than the time it takes to write his name.

A worthwhile slow burn, Gonzalo López-Gallego's 'American Star' is an entertaining, evocative story, boasting stunning, crisp cinematography, an engaging narrative and compelling characters. Headlined by the incomparable Ian McShane, the film is quiet and full of nuance, and therefore might not be to everyone's tastes. However, for fans of McShane, Jean-Pierre Melville or Stephen Frears' 'The Hit,' it is worth taking a shot at.