Since the end of World War II, certain large shadowy groups dominated movies as the ever-present but rarely seen enemy. It went from Soviet Russia and the KGB to American organizations like the CIA and then in the 1970s and 1980s assassins and terrorists. They were obvious villains, perfect for that type of story that required bad guys to be mysterious yet still appropriately evil. Now in the 21st century, it's a new villain on the street, banking, big business and shadowy corporations trying to rake in billions of dollars. What works so well with those damned evil bankers in The International is that they're more evil than you'd ever think. When cash is on the line, watch out.
For two years, Interpol agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) and New York assistant district attorney Ella Whitman (Naomi Watts) have worked on a case that will hopefully take down the shady International Bank of Business and Credit. The IBBC is rumored to be involved in a mult-billion dollar deal with an Italian arms dealer, and something doesn't add up. But through years of investigation, Salinger and Whitman always seem to hit a dead end, including recently several key witnesses turning up dead. As the bodies continue to drop, Louis and Ella begin to think they've been noticed by the wrong people. With pressure from above to shut down their case, time is running out.
I remember clearly this political, very current events thriller hitting theaters and landing with a dull thud. Reviews were mixed, and maybe the story of evil banking and big business corporations hit too close to home for audiences as The International made just $25 million in theaters. All I can think having watched it now, maybe it was just too smart of a movie. Think of a more reality based Bourne movie, and you've got this flick. It is a somewhat cold movie, but it reflects the reality of the story with these gigantic banks/corporations coldly going about its business, collateral damage be damned.
It hits a lot on the ever-growing paranoia that someone is watching you, pulling the strings to make you do what they need or want you to do. Owen's Salinger has been on the case for years and has become obsessed with the increasing feeling of being followed or tracked wherever he goes. With billions of dollars on the line, one life doesn't mean much to these people sitting in their lavish, decorated offices. Based in some reasonable feeling of reality (for movies at least), The International is dark, cynical, and perfectly appropriate for 2009. The ending is a whopper of a downer, and to be fair, it could have gone further if it wanted. As is, the ending feels like a punch to the gut as one man realizes that he's just that...one man against the world.
For a smart, stylish and sophisticated political thriller, who better to star than the smart, stylish and sophisticated British actor Clive Owen? He is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors currently in movies, and this is just one more above average, very solid part for him. His Salinger is driven to the point of pure obsession, not really caring what happens to himself as long as he closes the case in the end. Owen is that rare actor who can do drama and action, handling both adeptly well, holding his own in a run and gun shootout (more on that later) or an intense interrogation scene where his deep voice feels like it echoes off the walls. Watts makes the most of her part as the assistant DA who ends up being more of a tag-along to Owen than anything else. Also worth mentioning are Armin-Mueller Stahl and Ulrich Thomsen as IBBC executives, and Felix Solis and Jack McGee as two NYPD detectives helping on the case.
Yes, this is a smart, well thought out, well developed thriller. But don't for a second think this movie will be dull. It has one of the great action set pieces I've seen in recent years as Owen's Salinger and Solis' detective follow an IBBC hit man (Brian O'Byrne in a great supporting part) into the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. For starters, the shootout is choreographed like an action sequence should be, quick and hard-hitting but still coherent and not edited to the point where its impossible to follow. Two, it's unique. Set up action scenes in recognizable places/landmarks and you've got a winner. This is a doozy. It's an underrated, globe-trotting thriller that probably won't put a smile on your face, but with all the lowest common denominator dreck out there, it's nice to see a smart action movie like this one.
The International <---trailer (2009): ***/****
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