Review of The International (2009) by Jim H — 07 Aug 2012

An Interpol agent and an NYC District Attorney investigate mob-like dealings by an international bank.

Sometimes one's best assets are one's greatest weakness. The International implies that banks benefit from political corruption and turmoil, and thus, this particular "evil bank" fans the flames of countries' internal strife and even involves themselves in arms trafficking. To foment the flames of discord so widely, the bank has to be huge, and representatives of the bank make this point in the film. But in order to satisfactorily end the film, the bank either has to win or be completely defeated, and since the point all along was about the bank's far-reaching effects, the latter option doesn't work within the film's construct. Without giving away the ending, neither happens, so the ending isn't satisfying; it leaves the audience hanging in the balance, trying to walk a kind of middle road. I like the fact that the film chose a system and a systemic problem as its villain - this is the film's strength - but this strength leads to the film's inability to end well.

Also, I didn't understand Clive Owen's character. We get a little background, but this man is obsessed with this case, and we're never privy to why. What personally drives him to solve this case? Is he always this crazed and intense? His behavior is often irrationally angry, and more backstory - one that avoids cliche - would have been welcome.

The shoot-out at the Guggenheim was well-choreographed on the positive side.

Overall, the idea behind The International - choosing a systemic villain - is a good one, but it ultimately leads to the film's collapse.