"The International" is an appropriate title for this fast action film. It moves from Berlin, to Istambul, with stops in Milan, Luxemburg, Lyon, and Manhattan. It is the type of thriller with lots of twists and turns that makes the viewer dizzy, not knowing what is coming up next. The best thing though is that its hero, Louis Salinger, is the kind of man that appears to be real and mortal, not one of those stereotypical action men that seem to have an unseen shield around them to stop bullets from even scratching any part of his body.
The story centers about crooked bankers that are in the business of becoming involved with the criminal element to act as the intermediaries in the illegal weapons trade being mass produced in China for the purpose of providing third world countries with arms and equipment, they do not need. As the countries take on more debt, they fall prey to the unscrupulous money men controlling the international bank that act as a go between.
Tom Tykwer, the German director of hits like "Lola rennt", has a keen sense of style that he brings to any of his projects. "The International" is no exception. The film was written by Eric Singer, better known as the author of the screenplay of "Aeon Flux". There is plenty of action in this film to keep audiences at the edge of their seats. The best sequence being the one that involves an all out shoot out inside New York's Guggenheim Museum, which by the magic of the movies, did not take place there but in a German film studio.
Clive Owen makes an excellent case of his Salinger, the agent at the center of the action. Mr. Owen keeps getting better all the time. Naomi Watts makes a valuable contribution to the film with her Eleanor Whitman, the Manhattan D.A. that is investigating the activities of a bank run by criminals. Armin Mueller-Stahl appears as one of the corrupt individuals. Ulrich Thomsen plays the head of the bank. The supporting cast does a wonderful job for Mr. Twyker.
Frank Griebe, the cinematographer, a long time associate of the director captures all the action in breathtaking images. The talented Mr. Twyker also contributes to the music score.
The story centers about crooked bankers that are in the business of becoming involved with the criminal element to act as the intermediaries in the illegal weapons trade being mass produced in China for the purpose of providing third world countries with arms and equipment, they do not need. As the countries take on more debt, they fall prey to the unscrupulous money men controlling the international bank that act as a go between.
Tom Tykwer, the German director of hits like "Lola rennt", has a keen sense of style that he brings to any of his projects. "The International" is no exception. The film was written by Eric Singer, better known as the author of the screenplay of "Aeon Flux". There is plenty of action in this film to keep audiences at the edge of their seats. The best sequence being the one that involves an all out shoot out inside New York's Guggenheim Museum, which by the magic of the movies, did not take place there but in a German film studio.
Clive Owen makes an excellent case of his Salinger, the agent at the center of the action. Mr. Owen keeps getting better all the time. Naomi Watts makes a valuable contribution to the film with her Eleanor Whitman, the Manhattan D.A. that is investigating the activities of a bank run by criminals. Armin Mueller-Stahl appears as one of the corrupt individuals. Ulrich Thomsen plays the head of the bank. The supporting cast does a wonderful job for Mr. Twyker.
Frank Griebe, the cinematographer, a long time associate of the director captures all the action in breathtaking images. The talented Mr. Twyker also contributes to the music score.