The American is a 2010 American thriller film directed by Anton Corbijn and starring George Clooney, Thekla Reuten, Violante Placido, Irina Björklund, and Paolo Bonacelli. The Rowan Joffé screenplay is an adaptation of the 1990 novel A Very Private Gentleman by Martin Booth. Jack, a contract killer, is asked to design a high-end sniper rifle for an assassination. However, he isn't aware that all his actions are being monitored by a secret assassin from Sweden.