SNMR 7.26: "The International"

GREEN'S MEETING YOUR DESTINY ON THE ROAD YOU TOOK TO AVOID IT REVIEW:

Interpol agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) are determined to bring down the IBBC - the International Bank of Business and Commerce, a global financial institution that is hip deep in illegal activities like money laundering, arms trading, financing terror organizations and the destabilization of governments leading to greed, corruption and murder. But if they take down the people responsible, will others rise to take their place?

This is a film that was suggested to me that I watch while it had its theatrical run in 2009. But I never got around to it and knew that I'd want to watch it once it came out on DVD.

The story takes place in Berlin, Milan, New York and Istanbul, showing clearly the global community that our world has become in the last twenty-five years and what a monumental and seemingly overwhelming task it is for one or two individuals to take on world based corporate corruption.

Clive Owen is superb as the intense but out of shape detective. I had heard or read somewhere that Naomi Watts, as an equally intense New York DA, was the weak link in the cast but I did not find that to be the case. I thought her performance was excellent, keeping up with the boys. The supporting cast is also excellent, especially Armin Mueller- Stahl as the dignified link to the older generation of corruption.

I don't recall seeing any of German director Tom Tykwer's previous work, but judging from this movie, he's got a good sense of what the action/thriller genre is all about. Tykwer works well with writer Eric Singer, whose screenplay is taut and has a good pace to it, especially for his first feature length film writing credit.

There are several extras included on the DVD which were impressive and worth watching.

The movie has a run time of just under two hours, a perfect length. I found it to be an above average action/thriller, filled with intense action and edge of your seat suspense. Rent this DVD or buy it because it's definitely worth your while.

**** out of *****

The International (2009, R, 118 minutes), starring Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, Armin Mueler-Stahl, Ulrich Thomsen and Brian F. O'Byrne. Screenplay by Eric Singer. Directed by Tom Tykwer.