believe it or not but bruno ganz and dennis hopper are gay in this movie, and no, I will not elaborate on that.

Tonight my dreams will surely have The American Friend's score in the background. With nail biting action sequences, cinematography capturing neon lights and the city of Hamburg beautifully, and Dennis Hopper inexplicably breaking your heart as Tom Ripley-- Wim Wenders truly delivered in this neo-noir. And if none of that sells it to you, the Nicholas Ray and Samuel Fuller cameos should!

The American (boy)friend

Dennis Hopper in a cowboy hat is best Dennis Hopper.

Time to marathon Wim Wenders/Robert Müller movies.

Robbie Müller is by this point my everyday inspiration. I can't really understand what makes his style his. It's very unique in its own kind of way. If you've seen his films, you know that he's the master of light. No one lit exterior night shots like he did. The only photographer that has a similar feeling to this human approach in cinema is Christopher Doyle, who created this curious and almost playful intensity. I could be wrong, there are others out there that get it done in a similar fashion but they don't cut it like Müller. Maybe this is all just my opinion but does it really matter? We can all agree that "The American Friend" do wonders just by the moving images alone. Cold, hard-boiled, poetic and soothing for the cinema intrigued. Big Kino. Essential 70's film.
Bruno and Hopper fucks!

I think it needs a better rendition of act 1. Part of the grab/appeal to this an everyday man becoming a killer... and we spend so much time with him yet nothing of real substance seems to bubble to the surface. 

He’s a man waiting to die. And we watch him wait. Riveting...

With that being said once we hit the halfway point things kick into gear nicely and everything grounds itself in a wonderful mess of killings that for the purpose of the story; really do feel unchoreographed and merciless.

If you like more modern noire check this out. The criterion Blu ray makes it look 10 years more recent. Nice transfer

Hot take but maybe Dennis Hopper's best performance?

Such a wacky storyline that is so deeply, and fundamentally human at its core.

Breathtaking work from Robby Müller.

Huch - mit Abstand der düsterste Wim Wenders Film, den ich bis jetzt gesehen habe. Irgendwie war ich gar nicht darauf vorbereitet von ihm einen Thriller aufgetischt zu bekommen. Und was für einen. Neben der Geschichte - ein einfacher Handwerker/Künstler, der Bilderrahmen herstellt und Leukämie hat, nimmt einen Mordauftrag an, um seiner Familie ein Erbe zu hinterlassen - bekommen wir grandiose Schauspielleistungen mit einer spannungsgeladene Momente à la Hitchcock serviert. Bruno Ganz und Dennis Hopper hauchen ihren Charakteren ganz viel Leben ein und haben eine ganz eigene Chemie - aus anfänglicher Abneigung des Künstlers gegenüber dem "Aktienhändler" wird eine ganz eigene Freundschaft, die im Finale eine ganz eigene Tragik erhält. Packend, toll gefilmt und eine ganz eigene Version der schon oft gesehenen Geschichte - falls mir noch mehr Wenders Thriller vor die Füße stolpern, werde ich mich hoffentlich wieder genüsslich in meine Kissen sinken lassen und einfach genießen.

Bruno Ganz plays an art framer, dying of a blood disease, who takes a job as a hitman to provide for his family.  Dennis Hopper is the art dealer who fingers him for the job.  This was a stylish noir, full of action, twists and suspense.  Bruno Ganz is brilliant as the fragile yet determined art framer, slowly losing himself as the world implodes around him.  Dennis Hopper is electric, a wave of unpredictability feels like it could crash through his calm, gentle demeanor at any moment.  The pacing felt brisk while also letting the scenes breathe, and letting the great cast have defining moments.

Oddly comedic yet effective. Maybe it’s slow start is what’s keeping me from loving this but I still found it engaging for the most part.

*monkey noises*

On the threshold of
Being unraveled. Pushing
It out still further.