Rated R – 1h51

Reviewed 2.15.09

Just when you thought that banks spending taxpayer dollars on lush vacations was bad.

Here comes Clive Owen and Naomi Watts in a story that demonizes banks on a whole new level. The International is a thriller about two agents, one from Interpol (Owen) and the other from the New York District Attorney’s office (Watts) who are trying to bring justice to one of the world’s most powerful banks.

The bank is supposedly benefiting from the misery of the rest of the world.

Watts’ performance was bland and uninteresting, while Owen continually transforms from a book nerd to a gun-blazing action hero, creating confusion about the depth of his character.

The story is loose and lacking focus. Why would a New York D-A be traveling around the world to chase down a bank located in another country? Seems a bit out of their jurisdiction.

The international backdrop is nice as you get to go on a tour of the world, including a wicked shoot-em-up scene inside of the Guggenheim.

I love the idea of maker the banker the evil, evil baddies they are, but the movie didn’t hold my interest.