Thanks to Kevin Klawitter for the tip. I wanted to read this book before the movie debuted, thinking it would be fun mindless summer thriller. Turns out it’s based on a more literary source than I expected — A Very Private Gentleman by Martin Booth, who specialized in tales of conspiracy and intrigue often involving westerners isolated in foreign lands. His novel Industry Of Souls was shortlisted for a Booker Prize, so here’s hoping The American has retained some of Booth’s intelligent substance beneath the thrills.
The golden luster comes courtesy of cinematographer Martin Ruhe who also provided the satiny black-and-white sheen for Control, the 2007 breakthrough feature from director Anton Corbijn.