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Wednesday, February 11, 2009

The International

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: An Interpol agent (Clive Owen) and a New York attorney (Naomi Watts) try to expose a corrupt international bank that is selling arms to Third World countries, laundering money, and covertly killing anyone who gets close to uncovering their scheme.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Ulrich Thomsen, Brian F. O'Byrne, Michel Voletti, Patrick Baladi, Felix Solis, Jack McGee, Alessandro Fabrizi, Luca Giorgio Barbareschi, James Rebhorn

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketProceed with Caution. The question that becomes unavoidable by about the fifteenth minute of this movie, as everyone around our two leads gets killed for knowing too much, is why hasn't anyone tried to kill our two leads yet? The real answer: because they're the leads of the movie... If you can get past that elephant in the room, and you like political thrillers that force you to pay close attention, lest you miss a reference to a person or minute detail that may later come to matter, it's a well done film.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: If you're committed to understanding this complicated plot, you'll be too busy putting the pieces together and trying to remember who's who amongst the many international characters that pass through this story before getting assassinated, you won't be relaxed enough to laugh.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: This film will have you so deep into the recesses of your brain, that your mind will become completely separate from your body, thus hindering the free passage of any emotions or feeling to your being. Scientifically speaking.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: The action sequence in the Guggenheim Museum is likely to go down in action scene history. If it doesn't get nominated for an MTV Movie Award (which it probably won't because the rest of the movie is too heady for MTV audiences), it will at least be the most talked about part of the film as the years go by, and people forget everything else about it.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Audience, meet Clive Owen's intense side. In this film he unleashes his menacing stare on his fans, by unleashing it on his enemies... and his allies... and an empty lot... and a wall... and anything that moves... or stands still.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: There are some beautiful scenery shots of Italy, Istanbul, and France, which I'd like to give credit to not only the Director, but also the Production Designer and the Cinematographer for bringing to their full vibrancy. You get to feel like you're traveling the world for the low price of a movie ticket. The warmth of these beautiful places is well contrasted with the coolness that is used to depict the harsh, modern, interiors of the evil, but luxurious, banking establishment... And Germany.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Not emotionally involving, but on some levels intellectually satisfying, and containing a few interesting turns of phrase, including clever life lessons and philosophies. The ending is more of a downer than I would have liked, especially during a time of financial hopelessness, like the one we're in. My prediction is that this movie would have a more successful box office if they had gone a more uplifting way at the very last moment, which they could've easily done without compromising their point more than a tiny little bit.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: For reasons that I can't quite put my finger on, this 2 hour movie feels like 3. Maybe because every time you think you're getting to the big finale, a whole new plot twist begins to unfold.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-international/29837/trailers

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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice take on the movie. You hit many of the points that other reviews do.

vic said...

i thought this movie was hilarious....so many times Clive Owen managed to survive while everyone around him died. He almost had a special ability to dodge bullets! Quite funny :P

i also found this movie way confusing. didn't understand what was happening and lacked action.