I have never read the novel in which this movie is based. However, it is maybe like in all the books. The movie will never be better than the book (Lets mention The Lord Of The Rings, for example, or The Never Ending Story, Little Women... and on and on) so I learned few years ago that any time I watch a movie I wont ever compare it with the book, otherwise I am almost sure I wont like it. So, if I don't even consider that there is a novel about this movie, then I can consider is a good one. The camera movements talk for themselves, all the photography is awesome, since Claire's close-ups to the Bellegardes' facade. I would call it very sentimental shots, that make you able to feel Claire's sadness, and the mother's craziness, and maybe the music helps a lot. Something extra is that this movie has not the typical happy-end, and that's something I like a lot. I find also (even I am not a psychologist) the psychology of the characters very well treated.
Review of The American
