The International (R)
Mike:
Scott:
Scott: Tonight we are reviewing The International
a movie about an out-of-control bank and their drive to make money no matter the cost.
What did you think Mike?
Mike: It’s a very good thriller. I am actually surprised to see something this good out during this time of year.
How about you?
Scott: This was a good mixture of a thrill and suspense.
Mike: Tense is a word I would use. The great thing is that it wasn't predictable. I kept wondering what was coming next.
Scott: The movie starred Clive Owen as Louis Salinger, an Interpol agent and Naomi Watts as New York DA Eleanor Whitman. Both were well chose for this movie. Owen breathes suspense and Watts is perfect as a government lawyer.
Mike: Clive Owen has done a great job picking parts. I now want to see pretty much anything he is going to be in.
I love Daniel Craig as the choice for James Bond, but Clive could easily be Bond as well.
Scott: He is a very intense actor. His role was a good mix of a field agent and analyst. He moved easily between the tasks.
I was expecting Watts to just cry in fear all over the place, and even after we met her family that didn't change. She is definitely a career woman. Her part was not the normal part for a woman.
Mike: He really impressed me in Spike Lee's The Inside Man.
Scott: Yeah, that was another good role for him.
Mike: Watts has also been picking some great roles. I like that not only was her character tough, but not thrown in to be a love interest for a change. It was refreshing.
Watts isn't just a pretty face , she can act.
Scott: It's amazing that I still haven’t seen King Kong. Long movies always keep me at bay.
Mike: Kong wouldn't be on her highlight reel, but if you haven't seen 21 Grams or Mullholand Drive you need to.
Scott: So many movies, so little time...
Mike: I think another stand out is Armin Mueller-Stahl. He impressed me years ago in Shine and here he has a quiet evil that will grab you.
Scott: There is no real 'evil' person in this movie though. The evil thing is the bank itself.
Mike: You have to admit, the dudes who work for the bank are pretty much evil.
Scott: I don't. They are only about money. They are just plain greedy.
Mike: Oh and the bank kills people.
Scott: They did have a 'consultant' that cleared up human issues.
Mike: Maybe he was evil?
Scott: Still no. I think the consultant was strictly a business man. Killing was simply business.
Mike: Sounds evil to me.
Scott: I will admit they were bad people, but I can’t say evil.
Scott: The head of the bank is Jonas Skarssen played by Ulrich Thomsen. His goal was to make large amounts of money, no matter the cost.
The bank is a large multi-national based out of Luxemburg. It's hands are felt all over the world. Because of that, we get to see several locations Europe. This also helps explain the large foreign cast.
Mike: This film truly is international as we visit many beautiful countries.
The photography was very well done and the choice of office buildings throughout the world will stick with you.
Scott: You get to see some really nice architecture throughout the world.
Some buildings aren't left in the same condition as when they found them.
There were some cool shots in Milan, Istanbul, and at the Guggenheim in New York City.
Mike: Yes. That brings me to the point that even though this is a good thriller, it contains some great action.
Scott: This movie has one of the best shootout action sequences you will see in a movie.
Mike: It was actually cool how startling that was, when you didn't know it was coming. It is almost like that scene was filmed by Quentin Tarantino.
Scott: This is the first movie I've seen from Director Tom Tykwer. I really liked his style of letting the scene set itself. The tension of the long shots and wide angles was great.
Mike: I haven't seen any of his other movies either, but have heard great things about both Run Lola Run and Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.
Scott: This is writer Eric Singer's first movie. Not bad for a first time out. I'm really glad they didn't throw in some child in danger at the end. It seems that's how these movies always end.
Mike: So how do you rate this?
Scott: I really like the movie. It was a good ride. I give it s 3.5 out of 5 overall and a 4 for suspense/thriller.
What about you Mike?
Mike: I give it a 4 overall and a 4 for suspense thriller. We need more of these kinds of thrillers and less movies like Eagle Eye, which made no sense and had huge plot holes.
Scott: Why go International when you can watch this here this weekend?
