Bluray Review: The International
Clive Owen Leads Hunt Against Corporate Conspiracy in New Thriller
Jun 16, 2009
Though the oft-revised script by Eric Singer does tend to be uneven, and lacking a decent ending, The International still packs enough of a punch, to keep fans of intrigue glued to their seats for two hours.
The International Synopsis
When an insider working at the IBBC (International Bank of Business and Credit, a decentralized financial conglomerate) is looking to come in to talk to feds in New York about highly illegal practices within the bank, both the potential informer and his District Attorney's office handler are assassinated, one after the other.
As former Scotland Yard and current Interpol agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen, Duplicity) investigates and suspects a common link leading back to the bank in question, he reaches out to NYC ADA Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts, Eastern Promises), for help in following clues that may incriminate the conglomerate.
As the relentless Salinger makes strides in confirming a potential case of perjury against Jonas Skarsen, the head of the IBBC (Ulrich Thomsen), he begins to link a potential contract killer (Brian F. O'Byrne) back to the bank, and also becomes aware of a seasoned consultant (Armin Mueller-Stahl, Shine), who may be persuaded to turn on his employers.
Salinger and Whitman soon get desperate for leads, in that their respective bureaus are telling them to drop the investigation, a sure show of the bank's ties within most governments. Determined to bring in and flip one of Skarsen's close associates, the two investigators put everything on the line to get evidence sufficient to bring the IBBC to justice, given how most potential informants seem to die under unusual circumstances.
As the clock runs out, and the leads get thinner, Salinger and Whitman realize how dangerous going after one of the world's largest private groups can be, while they fight to make progress, without dying in the process.
The chase is on, and The International takes the audiences along for the ride.
The International Overall Analysis
As it was mentioned before, the film could have used a better wrap up in terms of a movie ending, rather than the post-edit aftermath sequence running through the credits, by way of newspaper headlines appearing in turn, explaining to the audience what happens when the screen cut to black.
It was widely reported that The International had been pushed back on the release calendar, due to an urgent need to turn the very cerebral script, into a more action packed format. This may have hurt the film's chances at the box office (a studio's decision to push back a film to a later date is never a good sign, unless it's to attract a larger audience), but the end result is much improved.
The Cast of The International
Clive Owen grabs the lead role by the horns as Louis Salinger, a man hungry for the truth, and who isn't afraid to step on a few toes, to get his man. The bit of back story explains how his hotheadedness got him kicked out of the Yard, before he joined Interpol. Though this film is a much denser semi-political thriller, it's not surprising to find out Owen was in the running to become the next Bond. He is very focused, and plays brooding and reckless very well, and his British demeanor doesn't hurt, either. Think Brosnan, by way of Timothy Dalton.
Naomi Watts does what she can with her Ellie Whitman character, but she just can't put her finger on what makes the character tick. Ironically, in one of the bonus features, she talks about how this was her newest chance to play outside the comfort zone, given her slew of roles as damsel in distress. Though she may do a bit more yelling in this one, she doesn't realize she's still plays the girl in distress, despite her efforts.
Notable mentions go out to Armin Mueller-Stahl as Wexler, the aging consultant for the IBBC who's seen too much action in his life, and is tired of playing the game; another notable mention is reserved for Ulrich Thomsen, who does nicely as Skarsen, head of the IBBC. Though he only has a handful of scenes in the film, his character is one filled with calculated composure, and decisive action. He'd almost make a decent Bond villain, were it required.
The International Bluray Features
There is an extended scene between Salinger and Whitman, which takes them from a cab, to a building in Berlin, to a bus, and then back to their hotel. Seems the point of the scene was to show how paranoid Salinger can get (though it's not paranoia when they're really after you), and then a bit of a tender moment as Whitman speaks to the now-widow of her partner, killed at the start of the film. A rather long scene, to say the least, watch only if you tend to watch every extra on a disc.
The high point of the Bluray special features, is an option called "The International Experience", which is basically a video feature playing in a smaller screen bottom right, which takes you behind the scenes, as you're watching the film. Though many may have trouble keeping track of both, try this option after having seen the film once. It beats the usual "making-of" (also included on the Bluray disc) by a mile and a half.
The set also comes with a digital copy, useful for watching this intense story on the go.
The Final Word on The International Bluray
This film is for anyone who is into political intrigue, but who also enjoys a fine bit of chasing around, gunfights galore, as it is essentially a cross between a Bond film, and a Tom Clancy thriller, without all of the naval stuff. A decent, cerebral shootout flick.
7 out of 10, for a solid action thriller, minus points for poor Naomi Watts who doesn't get to do much, and for a lackluster ending.
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