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The International
(2009)
The trailer for this film had been accused of doing what only the very worst kind of action films are accused of. That being it pooled all of the action elements in the film and threw it into the trailer, attempting to suggest to the viewer that this was a rollercoaster of a film, much like anything from the Bourne or Mission Impossible franchises. To say that this comes up to the mark of any of those six films would be giving it a great compliment. Whilst the film does indeed contain the odd thrill (a pre-requisite for any thriller, I would imagine) it is so far removed from any type of rollercoastering that you could easily label it pedestrian instead.
The idea that banks are evil is a timely one, given the global credit crunch and the many furtive and mysterious backhanders that governments are readily willing to offer them. The actions of the eponymous International Bank featured here, however, go far beyond lending money to people that can’t really afford to pay it back. As opposed to finance, the bank in question seems more intent on the purchase and distribution of weapons to various states in order to control wars and revolutions around the globe, assuming that funding them will, as brokers to any crisis, levy a certain degree of control, even if only by the amount of debt their buyers will accrue.
Whenever Interpol’s Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) gets close to exposing the bank, his witnesses are murdered, or just disappear entirely, hinting that the bank is at least as well versed in espionage and double-dealing as he is. When he decides to team up with Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) of the District Attorney’s office, a little more progress is made, but the two of them clearly have no idea exactly what they are dealing with, still dogged at every turn they make towards providing evidence that will force the bank into court to answer their crimes.
The International does a great deal for tourism, however, by living up to its name and we are taken from one side of the world to the other and back again in the blink of an eye. It left me wondering just how Salinger coped with all the jetlag, such was the travelogue involved. Despite the globe-trotting, the only thing that this plot device really offered was some interesting shots of the various cities that they visited. An expensive slide show of your holidays, if you like.
The plot fumbled often and stalled almost to a halt on a number of occasions and you get the distinct impression of having to work too hard to follow a convoluted and meandering tale, at least half of which didn’t really require telling in the first place. Overly complicated in places and criminally lacking in others, the film did more to frustrate than entertain.
Clive Owen was suitably brooding, though whether this was from the script or just his general demeanour over being involved in this picture is difficult to call. Naomi Watts’ Whitman was drowning from beginning to end and in the nicest possible way, you have to take Watts to task for this. Admittedly, the script may have lacked a certain something for her to get her teeth into, but knowing her ability, it really doesn’t look like she is even trying here.
The action sequences seem, when they do appear, badly choreographed and come across as messy, poorly directed, loafing about. The scene in the Guggenheim was a particularly careless example of this and again, you do not feel thrilled by events, but frustrated by a good idea poorly executed.
In all, not quite a travesty. Clive Owen still appeals and I stand by my opinion to call him a suitable Bond, if the timing is right. Aside from his performance, I have little to recommend the film with. Give this one a miss and wait for the rental.
-Steve Leadbetter
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2004-2009 Thoughtsonfilm.com |
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Director:
Tom Tykwer
Writer: Eric Singer
Starring: Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, , Armin Mueller-Stahl, Ulrich Thomsen
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Runtime: 118
min
Rating: R
Release Date: February 13, 2009
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