Review of The International (2009) by Dean H — 02 Dec 2009

I was pleasantly suprised, to the point of shock, with this one. Thanks to the trailer and the widely-circulated posters (Clive Owen grimacing while firing an Uzi one handed, Naomi Watts clinging to his black coat) I figured it would be just some heavy-handed, poorly-written attempt to show some international banking conspiracy, with only one protagonist (Clive Owen) who knows the truth, and isn't afraid to shoot everyone just to prove points.

But then I saw it was directed by Tom Tykwer, and the man who directed "Heaven" ain't going to direct some run-of-the-mill action movie.

The plot was presented in a very realistic, terrifying manner. The world is a scary place, and it isn't too much of a stretch to think that a banking firm has it's hands in a whole manner of gun-smuggling, arms running, and god knows what else. Money is power, and one little Interpol agent who swiftly uncovers the truth isn't going to stand in their way.

Great, quick-moving but thoughtful plot, featuring a frantic, bloody and sensational shoot-out in New York's Guggenheim Museum, the climax of an immensely suspenseful cat-and-mouse chase through the streets.

I love being pleasantly surprised by a new movie, when more often i'm so disappointed by them.