We don’t give Ian McShane enough credit for his versatility as an actor. While most became familiar with him through his vulgarity-fueled performances in Deadwood, McShane has always been the epitome if quiet cool, as seen in his role as Winston in the John Wick movies. But underneath that slick veneer is a looming menace, a history of violence, and a lifetime of regrets. And all of these traits McShane exhibits beautifully in the assassin thriller, American Star.
Similar to last year’s The Equalizer 3 with Denzel Washington, American Star is a character study of a man whose entire life has been of bloodshed and mistrust. What does a man like this do when he finds his little corner of paradise, and longs to get away from the violence for the first time ever? In the case of McShane’s character, the singularly-named Wilson (you could almost see this as a Winston standalone chapter), the paradise is the island of Fuerteventura. Sent there on finale assignment to kill a target he’s never seen before, the gig is delayed when the mark doesn’t show. And so Wilson decides to kick his feet up and relax in this idyllic corner of the world and wait until it’s time to go to work.
American Star is as reserved and neatly poished as its central character and the man who plays him. Wilson, always looking suave in his black suit and tie, a cigarette in hand, strikes a confident, poised figure. We don’t need to see him in action to know that he’s the best. But we also don’t need a monologue to know that he’s conflicted, and contemplating a different kind of future. As the days pass, Wilson begins forming relationships with people on this tiny island. Wilson becomes a safe haven for Max (Oscar Coleman), a young boy who is clearly looking to get away from his warring parents. There’s also Ryan (Adam Nagaitis), a colleague and someone Wilson is close to on a personal level. As Wilson lets his guard down, Ryan appears and tries to steer him back on track, turning the heat up to simmer just a little bit.
But the key relationship in Wilson’s life is Gloria (Nora Arnezeder), a 30-something drifter with a casual attitude and outlook on life. Wilson had spotted her and her ever-present motorbike while scoping out the job, and now here they are becoming fast friends. She “likes to meet people”, and clearly there are some pent-up daddy issues swirling around in there, too. They talk about an eventually visit a decrepid old battleship, the one that gives the film its title, and it’s obvious the comparison being made.
McShane has been developing American Star with director Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego and writer Nacho Faerna to create exactly the kind of story they wanted to tell. This is a film that’s more about mood and capturing a certain kind of vibe. The exotic locale is perfect, a mixture of gorgeous beaches and desert landscapes that seem to stretch on forever. The pace is so casual that you might actually forget it’s about a hitman with a job to do, and in fact, Wilson seems to forget this, too. He does something that an assassin is never supposed to do, which is get close to people, and in a tiny place like Fuerteventura the same faces pop up anywhere and everywhere. Before long, the connections Wilson has made becomes a genuine threat.
When the violence erupts in American Star, it happens suddenly and brutally, a stark reminder of the reality of the world Wilson has walked in. There’s no such thing as an easy escape from the life Wilson has led, and blood is always the price for trying. A subtle twist on the “one last job” hitman genre, American Star is effortlessly sophisticated and dangeously cool, with McShane proving that he’s always the right man for the job.
American Star is available in theaters and VOD now.
