George Clooney Set to Take the Weekend with “American”

George Clooney’s “The American” looks like it’s in good shape to take the weekend box office.

“The American” opened Wednesday and already has $3.1 million in the till. It could come out of the holiday weekend with $20 million or more.

As I wrote a couple of days ago, “The American” has been a strange deal. No publicity and little marketing. Just ads. And hope. Clooney got a big boost at the Emmy Awards on Sunday night when he received a humanitarian award. His speech was superb, and if he wasn’t running for office, then it was for box office king.

Anton Corbijn has made a stunning, compelling little film. Clooney is excellent as a hit man from the old Clint Eastwood days, a loner who says little as he survives various attempts on his life.  A beautiful naked Italian girl is really all you need besides the hero, and Corbijn delivers. I think “The American” will have a reputation that builds over time. And it’s nice to see an intelligent film in which not everything needs to be explained and laid out.