The International Reviews

Clive Owen and Naomi Watts are two of my favorites and together they helped me enjoy this film. A good hefty dose of action and some excellent thriller type moments as suspense combine for a good smart movie.

When director is someone as special as Tom Tykwer is, there is certain expectations that he would bring a fresh touch to a conspiracy thriller but unfortunately none of that happens. Tykwer's cinematographer Frank Griebe often manages to capture beautiful images to his camera, but none of them are nearly as impressive like in Tykwer's stunning Heaven.
The International is a film that holds many cliched themes, ideas and set pieces that makes it feel unoriginal and boring. There are even couple of pointless shoot-outs that feel completely out of place and destroys rest of the film's overall pace. It is sad to see that Tykwer and his team are making somekind of sophisticated mixture of Commando and Parallax View. Eric Warren Singer's story is flat and boring and the cast is completely lost with their material. It is sad to see actor like Naomi Watts in role this thankless and one dimensional as it is here. Clive Owen mostly shouts his dialogue so everyone can see how furious he is. The International might look sleek and stylish but it lacks the energy, suspense and originality to make it worthvile. This is one of Tykwer's weakest films to date.

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.

Tom Tykwer directs this engaging thriller about Interpol agent Louis Salinger who, along with Manhattan assistant district attorney Eleanor Whitman, invistigate an arms smuggling ring powered by one of the most powerful banks in the world. We all have ideas that there's some big hands pulling the strings of the world, and I love how this film uses financial institutions as the focus, showing just how big of a role banks have in global issues, criminal or otherwise.

Of course, since this is a thriller, the criminal side is the foucs, and that's fine with me. I like the idea of big banks being the force behind international terrorist organizations and the forces behind the destabilization of governments.

This is a smart film, and relatively realistic and down to Earth compared to most similar films, namely the Bourne films. Sure, those have tons of style and action, but the penetic editing style makes them confusing at times, especially during the action setpieces. With this one, things are still stylish, yet more low key and downplayed. When there is action though, such as the awesome shootout at The Guggenheim, not only is the movie awesome and thrilling, but you can actually tell what's going on. If only more studios would catch on....

Yeah, the film's plot is kinda muddled, and you really have to pay attention, but this is not for people wanting mindless action. It's brainy, engaging, and still manages to entertain. I could have used a bit more clarity, but, I do applaud the film for having a really realistic and downbeat ending.

Clive Owen and Naomi Watts are solid in their roles as Salinger and Whitman respectively, and there's some good work from Stahl and O'Byrne as well. Some critics acused the film if not having any "human" characters, but that's because they were expecting typical genre characterizations instead of something more grounded. Usually the critics complain that characters in these movies aren't realistic, so, now that they are, they also complain?!? Geez...


Anyways, this is a pretty decent film. I wasn't quite convinced at first, since it is rather slow and lite on slam bang thrills, but, when it does get into that territory, it doesn't disappoint. If you want a thriller that's not quite more of the same, then give this a shot.

Clive Owen's one of the few actors that have caught me off guard through his performances in "Inside Man", "Children of Men", and "Sin City" and his performance in "The International" delivers, but what a horribly convoluted screenplay. "The International" suffers from a narrow, one-dimensional plot with no heart, at all. As you can imagine, this movie is super forgettable for characters go from point A to point B with no mention of any sort of motivation. Don't get me wrong -- cinematography is cutting edge and the action set-pieces are engaging but there is absolutely no substance.

Never over the top and never unrealistic, The International is a grown up sort of thriller but if your a big Bourne fan you may feel a little disappointed. Personally, I felt it was a breath of fresh air to the genres - you certainly can't go wrong when you cast Clive Owen. OK so it doesn't have the original twists and turns but when you start to think that the plot is very feasible, then it gets a little scary. For what it's worth, I thought it was pretty good!

Tom Tykwer's Hollywood debut starts out great. The conspiracy thriller does pull the right strings in the first 30 minutes, making the viewer as angry about this corrupt bank as Clive Owen's character, who is determined to take it down, no matter what. Things stay interesting and engaging up to a really cool shoot out at the Guggenheim museum. Sadly, after that the film falls flat somehow. Things kind of dissolve into nothing in the end, offering very little of a solution or satisfaction. Of course, the film is really well made and acted. If only it had ended with a bang.

A pretty decent conspiracy thriller with Clive Owen and Naomi Watts as globetrotting investigators eyeballing some curiously pleased-with-themselves rich CEO types. They have a fun uninterrupted shootout at a famous New York art museum as a cool action centerpiece of the film for what seems like days! I laffed so hard!

Clive Owen and Naomi Watts in a high class action movie, what else can you expect aside from satisfaction? Clive Owen continues to show off his skills with oozies and savy bank investigation skills. While this certainly does deliver on great action, most of the time is spent on the mystery aspect. I really liked that it took its own format in terms of building suspense and the characters. It also happens to be incredibly well shot, something I somehow wasn't expecting.

There was a good idea for a movie somewhere in this story.... but it was lost in a mire of double crosses and lack of editing. It had potential but missed.

"Sometimes the hardest thing in life is to know which bridge to cross and which to burn... I'm the one you burn."

'The International' is a conspiracy/political thriller, inspired by an actual scandal in the banking business. I remember that the film got a lot of bad media coverage, at least here in Finland, because of some at-that-time current scandals at the beginning of this latest worldwide financial depression. And this happened before the film was even released. I've since read that the release of 'The International' was re-scheduled because of bad previews. Maybe it was just a bit too topical?

Cliwe Owen is an Interpol agent investigating on some illegal business by one of the world's biggest banks, IBBC (the International Bank of Business and Credit). During the film, Salinger (Owen) is taken to several places around the world, on his one man mission to bring some justice to the corrupt bank.

The plot of 'The International' is quite timely but that is, in my opinion, one of the strongest factors in the movie. The script needs the complete attention of the viewer for maximum enjoyment. But there is a major fault in the movie. It feels as if Tom Tykwer, the director, doesn't know whether to choose between on making an action movie or a serious political thriller. Another disturbing thing was that the key players are (and remain) distant and lack attractivity.

The cinematography of 'The International' is simply brilliant. There is one action scene that takes place in the Guggenheim museum in NY. It does have credibility as a top-notch adrenaline filled action sequence and is simply an enjoyment to watch. In overall, the film looks and sounds amazing. The crew really know their business.

Cliwe Owen gives a stellar performance but I really didn't like Naomi Watts' uninspiring performance as the attorney assisting on the mission. She just doesn't fit in these kind of roles. This was a lame attempt to get out of the pigeonhole of dramatic roles. But the rest of the cast, especially Brian F. O'Byrne, were good in their roles. I found out later that he has performed in such high-class movies as 'Million Dollar Baby' and 'Before the Devil Knows You're Dead'.

'The International' delivers a somewhat good experience and is a nice addition to the genre of political thrillers, which lack recent successes ('Syriana' in '05 is probably the latest). It does challenge the audience with its story and comes recommended for a single viewing.

A word of caution: Naomi Watts does appear in this movie, but seriously, she's barely there. That's not helping the cause. I'm neither here nor there on Clive Owen, and the jury is still out. Still the Guggenheim shootout is very cool, and this is an okay action flick.

really good thriller with really awesome action scenes when there is action. B+

A private bank is trading in arms, and the 'hero', Clive Owen, is trying to prove all their underhanded activity. Clive's character is a bit more ordinary than Jason Bourne, but he gets into similar gun battles, etc. The one in the Guggenheim Museum is pretty cool.

Shooting up the Guggenheim - wow!! But there's so much more to this film than that now famous scene, including a very intelligent script and a subtle yet very timely message about the power and amorality of banks.

There is a certain dissconnect and waste of Naomi Watts who plays a fed agent who laisons with interpol's Clive Owens. She's all over the map on this one, but the rage that she shares with Owens over how govm't regulations and inter country relationships make it easy for the banks (and others) to easily work in the shadows without fear of reprecussion.

There are so many scenes here that are close to brilliant, yet don't quite pull it all off, just making it all so frustrating - and I guess perhaps that was the intention - letting the audience feel all the anguish as normal people uphold the wrong ideals and spout empty laws that no longer fit the 21st century.

The wonderful part of the script comes when Owen confronts the "advisor" to the bank, who was captured (at great price) by the NYPD. A true look into everyone's soul as the German tells Owen that the only way to take down the bank will involve some serious colateral damage. He knows who he has gone to bed with - and knows that he will probably be killed, just as the killer he was "handling" was sanctioned by the bankers.

I personally dislike the use of "titles" to show where we are in a film - it works on TV (more or less), but here shows a laziness, which is odd when the rest of the script is so deep and profound.

Still, there are so many "conveniences" that keep this from being a truly wonderful film - again, I have to chalk that up to juggling all the many plot points and keeping the story moving, but oh, what could have been!! The shoot em up in the Guggenheim was epic and the intelligent, no holds barred parts of the script and the very poetic ending, with the Interpol agent, finally having enough of the bankers getting their way, stalks the head banker through Istanbul (nice scenery here, by the way), and finally can't pull the trigger (even though the banker is goading him to try, by saying he hasn't the "authority" to kill an evil man - only to be saved by... well I'm not going to say, as that would give away too much.

Suffice it to say - the ending resolves nicely and let's you forgive some of the rather odd scenes that come before it.

In all, an intelligent thriller, where the violence seems for a purpose and not simply gratuitous.

Tykwer manages to bring a more than adequate conspiracy feel to the story, making for a very fine espionage thriller.

i am a sucker for these crime thrillers, as long as they work, and this one does on most levels. there are two scenes in the film that lack common sense, but aside from ever so slight flaws this is an incredibly well thought out and engaging film. thankfully tykwer resisted the urge to bournize his main character so that the film plays out more like the good crime thrillers of the 70's. the cinematography was a pleasant surprise, and the script was mostly solid. this is one of two very underrated films for 2009 starring clive owen, and his other was even better.

The International is notably handsome, almost to the point of seeming like a glossy perfume advertisement, and is commendable for its lack of ridiculous action scenes (short of a flashy, ostentatious but at least engaging shootout at the Guggenheim) and over-the-top superhero characters. But really...I'm sort of horrified that they put Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, and Tom Tykwer in a room together and THIS is what came out. There is no personality to this film. Not a drop. It's a rote, competent, completely exsanguinated tale about big bad capitalism and that roguish lone-wolf investigator with his attractive token partner trying to take the Man down. We don't get any more character development than Naomi Watts Has a Family and Clive Owen Fucked Up One Time, and the movie is serious to a fault. Though I do appreciate a film that's willing to be complex/mature and politically wordy, most of the time it felt like I was following a trail of expository bread crumbs from one plot point to the next. There are no real rewards to be found in watching this. It felt like I was enjoying the movie in fits, up until the final half hour, when Naomi Watts is randomly cast out of the picture and I'd given up any hope of the characters becoming more than faces reacting to revelations. It's no wonder this failed - not flashy and explosive enough for audiences, no real human material or substance for critics. I don't think the adult thriller is dead quite yet, but if efforts like this keep coming down the pipe, then it will be soon.

You're better off reading a travelogue.

I thought this was a good conspiracy action/ thriller with a good cast. It's a very entertaining film with a good plot, it's enjoyable watching all the plot lines unfold and the connections made to take them on to the next lead. The film is shot in many locations including New York, Milan, Turkey and almost has a slight Bond, Bourne ultimatum feel to it. The shoot out at the Guggenheim gallery in New York has been one of the best I've seen since Heat. A solid well made film that should appeal to action, thriller fans or fans of the similar films mentioned.

Most of the time you may not know what the hell is going on on-screen, but it sure is fun. THE INTERNATIONAL succeeds as an action film thanks to exhilarating, heart-pounding action sequences, splendid cinematography and a decent cast.

The shoot-out at the Guggenheim is absolutely epic. THE INTERNATIONAL deserves a viewing solely for that scene.