The International

This thriller, true to the title takes you across the United States, Europe and the Atlantic with Clive Owen, a die-hard Interpol agent and Naomi Watts, a New York assistant district attorney, trying to track down the huge financial irregularities by a Luxembourg-based bank called The International.

The plot holds firm till the first half. Owen is always taken on the wrong track to get the real people behind the mega scam. It gives the impression that ‘The International’ could be a serious flick with signs of secret tie-up between government officials and banks to finance terrorists.

The film also rolls quite fast with some amazing gunfight scenes and beautiful architectural setup until the second half when the script requires more sitting and speaking by the characters.

This is where you get the holes. When characters speak too much to explain what the film is about it usually means it has failed to make you see the best techniques in making a good cinema. The plot, therefore, disintegrates slowly with each character turning out to be some kind of complicated letters even a small kid would find it difficult to read.

However, this is not to say that the film is a total turn-off. The efforts put in by the entire cast balances the flaws. Armin Mueller-Stahl as a former communist who now serves as a middleman between banks and their ‘esteemed customers’ looks exceptionally good in his suit. The film may not be a wholesome thrilling exercise but there are director Tom Tykwer’s exotic setup and brilliant action scenes to keep you spellbound.
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The International
English (A)
Cast: Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Ulrich Thomsen
Director: Tom Tykwer