The International: 6.2/10
The International (2009): 6.2/10
The International offers nothing really new in the "trying to take down the conspiracy and corruption of a huge orgainzation or power" sub genre of action films but it is a very decent entry into the familiar synopsis. The film is directed by Tom Tykwer most famously of Run Lola Run but also of The Princess and the Warrior and Perfume. His direction is much less present here than it is in Run Lola Run and he really puts his efforts into making effective scenes in subtle ways. He makes this film almost all that it can be.
The film tells the story of an Interpol agent played by Clive Owen and a District Attorney played by Naomi Watts who have been trying to find proof and expose a conspiracy involving the International Bank of Business and Credit (IBBC) and their attempts at arms trading, power over Third World countries and other illegal activities. The two actors do a fine job in very underwritten roles. I wish more time had been put into developing these characters because in the two hours this fill has to tell its story, this seems like an action film that actually could have found the time for character development. Instead we get that Clive Owen had a mishap 2 years before the film starts when working on this case and that Watts has a husband and kid. Wow. Really deep. I do like though that the decision was made to have absolutely no romantic subplot between the two of them and to show them simply being co-workers. It allows Watts to exist on her own and not as a device for romance.
The film has a pretty good first hour. I was kept interested for the first half and everything is built up quite nicely. Then about an hour in there is a pretty fantastic and epic gunfight in the Guggenheim which is easily the best part of the film (outside of the opening scene). The film is almost brought down by this scene because the rest of the film cannot live up to it nor can it gain the momentum that is spent the first hour building up because it was all spent on this great scene.
Besides some really nice work from the always great Armin Mueller-Stahl, the last hour of the film falls into a sort of lull. Its problems are within the script. There is a lot of really decent stuff going on here but the script fails to push the envelope for the subgenre of action films and it goes into some predictable pitfalls such as the whole "impossible to take down the conspiracy" scene where Owen has his realization that he cannot make a difference. That sort of stuff.
Everyone does a nice job. There is a much appreciated supporting role by Patrick Baladi who plyed Neil on the original UK version of The Office.
The International is a worthy submission into the take down the conspiracy sub genre of action films. It has a great opening scene and a really fantastic gunfight midway through. It also has leads who are actually interesting to watch and Tykwer's direction is confident and quietly effective. The reaosn this film is only a bit more than decent is because it is marred by a complete lack of character developnment, a predictable end and a last half which oes not live up to its first.
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Nice Review.
The International was a mixed bag for me too.
I adored Twykers The Princess and The Warrior and Wintersleepers and here his Direction is equally impressive. The cinematography and action choreography are unfaltering in visual intrigue.
Clive Owen (Croupier) is so watchable onscreen that I can't be objective anymore, his performances always entertain with under spoken issues.
I agree, sadly it is the script that lets this conspiracy fan down. Naomi Watts part is under developed and I am not much of a fan of hers to begin. The whole plot just seems to get to simple in the end, but the final scene is cracking with gravitas....those closing credits kind of removed some of its ambiguous power though.