THE INTERNATIONAL

THE INTERNATIONAL: ZERO TO SIXTY IN THIRTY FIVE MINUTES
Frankly, the whole first half of this movie both bored and confused me. Even though our main character, Interpol Agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) is determined to "get the bad guy" he isn't likable. I understand he didn't need to be and references are made about his past that indicate he was coming off some personal demons, just not enough, however, to make me care; loosely followed by Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts). Perhaps this is the way that their real counterparts act, but this is a movie and I need to feel some kind of connection to the people who are trying to save the day. Ironically enough, the director purposefully made his "bad guys" not bad, but humans who are just trying to take care of their own families and live their own lives. That was a nice touch.
By far, and perhaps over encompassing, the scenery and locations for the film were breathtaking. Not just pretty, but architecturally complex with purpose. Very nicely done. Now, that the movie has been set up, identifying the banking scheme to rule the world, the movie kicks into high octane power. Like another of my Owen favorites (Shoot 'Em Up) the action is intense and once in gear, doesn't seem to let up. Just when you think you've seen it all and can predict the ending, it does a total flip that was so unexpected you would never be able to predict it. This film took a while to grow on me, but by the time the real action sets in, I was blown away. Both Owen and Watts gave good performances, but I couldn't tell if the aloofness was a good character study, or attempts to "act" like an agent. It was a departure for Watts and I'm unsure if it actually worked really well or really not. In the end this film was held by two characters; Owen and the scenery. Regardless of my nitpicking, I do think this is a solid film and one worth seeing.
Bite: Visually stunning film; hang on until it kicks into full throttle.