GurlyIamBeach Instant Favorite.

Grimossfer Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

Motompa Go in cold, and you're likely to emerge with your blood boiling. This has to be seen to be believed.

filippaberry84 I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

The Movie Diorama My adoration for cold realistic spy thrillers is well known. From the likes of John Le Carré film adaptations to technological conspiracy thrillers, there is something for everyone in this sub-genre. Despite the real world scenarios, these are not entirely accessible as many struggle to focus on the jargon and narrative structure. The International is that, but I do not see this as a detriment. Two special agents are tasked in investigating possible corruption within a fictional bank known as the IBBC. Anyone who gets close mysteriously disappear or meet their untimely demise, thus leading Interpol into believing illegal activity. Interestingly based on the BCCI scandal of 1986, it portrays how global finance can affect international politics. This is absurdly intelligent, I mean get ready to bring a notepad with you because by the end of this you will earn a degree in finance and politics. It is heavy. It is cold. It is not for everyone. Yet, it is constantly engaging. The script and direction really enhances this thriller to stand out above the rest...for the most part. Extremely concise dialogue. Fact one is interjected with fact two is then counteracted by fact three to only then be pushed aside by fact four. Super sharp and on point consistently. It's a riveting watch and entirely fascinating. Tom Tykwer's direction is clinically clean, and it suits this style of film. Focussing on the bright white architecture to enhance the grandeur of powerful corporations against one small man. The occasional action scenes were well filmed and edited. The shootout at the Guggenheim museum is one of the best ever and highly recommend you watch it. It's fast, tense and leaves you speechless. Especially when it comes out of nowhere! The production team constructed a replica of the museum, just so that they can rain bullets upon it. Now that is dedication. After this scene though, the plot dips and the film's conclusion is underwhelming...which is a shame. Not for everyone, but superbly made.

Michael Radny Unfortunately The International doesn't deliver anything new to the plate, giving us the same cat and mouse chasey with adults that you've seen before. Whilst the story is something interesting, it fails to capitalize on the story, giving the audience nothing really to invest in. It's not boring, it feels like a high octane thriller, but there are no surprises. You already know how it's going to end, it's just a matter of figuring out who is the mouse. Nowhere near perfect, but not a total failure. Just there is nothing here worth investing in for the long run. It's a thriller and for the genre it is a pretty consistent film, but nothing feels fresh and original and above all it is more or less a cash grabber. Probably not worth watching, but if it's on TV, like it was for me, and there is nothing else to watch, you can zone out enough for this to make sense.

rps-2 This has all the stuff I like in a movie....bad guys...even worse bad guys...exotic locations...dramatic photography...tense background music...long legged women in tight black dresses...no focus on reality whatsoever. This is a big boys and their toys movie, sort of James Bond without James Bond. There is constant dramatic tension, enhanced by a throbbing musical score and some remarkably angled shots. That's camera shots. There are lots of the other kind too. The big shoot out scene is a little silly with shots, sobs and sutures. But it's tremendously well done and even if a bit too gory in spots (splotches?) it's still pretty damn tense, nail biting stuff. Imagine! A movie about banking that's really exciting!

bigsamuel The International, starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts, is an action, suspense thriller that does a great job of keeping you glued to your seat without resorting to the usual "shoot 'em up" tactics (except for one scene in the museum). The casting was great, the script was very well thought out, and Tom Tykwer does a great job in directing this film. The pensive viewer who looks behind the external plot will enjoy tuning into the emotional worlds of Agent Selinger (played by Clive Owen) and his partner for this case Assistant District Attorney Whitman (played by Naomi Watts). Selinger is smart and motivated - he wants to bring down the world's top white collar bad guys - but he's really upset that higher powers are putting obstacles in his way at every step. Tykwer depicts Owen's character Selinger as a tough guy with morals and emotions. Selinger is usually able to contain his rage and direct it towards action. His emotions are set to a low boil throughout most of the film but at one point Selinger gets so wound up he snaps and starts to strangle a young woman who accidentally bumps into him, thinking she is an assassin. Some critics have expressed disappointment with the role given to Naomi Watt's character Whitman but I think that it was a fresh change to see a woman represented as one who embodies both strength and submission, logic and empathy. Tykwer deserves credit for daring in this day and age to portray a woman as one with gentle femininity, especially in a film of this genre. She complemented Selinger perfectly, he the dashing tough guy and she the pretty and supportive female. Their chemistry was superb, and my only complaint is that the script had her married and destroyed our chances of enjoying a romance that could have easily and naturally developed between them during the film. Tykwer teases us towards the end of the film as Whitman lovingly caresses Selinger's face and runs her fingers down to his chest as they part. Two mainly irrelevant scenes that I enjoyed were in the museum where the assassin comments on how the painting depicts agony and the camera moves to the painting and we see the agonized face of a mother standing next to her dead child. Also I enjoyed the "so stupid it made me laugh" scene where Whitman and her boss have an fired up philosophical debate about truth. Superb film - 9/10