THE INTERNATIONAL

Yeah.

It's true.

Clive Owen? He's still hot. Don't act so surprised.

In THE INTERNATIONAL, Mr. Owen plays the part of Louis Salinger, a questionable agent with a questionable past who wants to bring down the largest international bank. Motive? Questionable activity. But really, that's not the point. If you're watching THE INTERNATIONAL, you're clearly in it for the ride, not the destination; the pacing matters much more than the plot. And there, THE INTERNATIONAL shines.

Tight with an accelerated feel aided by a stylishly emotive score, the pulse of this film is its most alluring feature. The soundtrack supports every scene, and even though one might kind of notice a plot hole or two (for instance, how did Salinger get as far as he's gotten in his investigation without any attempts on his life?), for the most part, the score anchors the action so that everything happening does more or less feel right.

Now, there is a bit off about THE INTERNATIONAL. It's a movie about international banking while most of the world economy is in a recession. It's also a bank thriller where no money actually changes hands. On top of that, it's a movie about bringing down a bank whose lead character spends a lot of money traveling internationally and destroying a lot of expensive things. But hey, let's move past those things temporarily so we can take a long, lingering look at Clive.

More troubled than in movies past, Clive Owen's sporting a fixedly brooding expression that makes his face look like it's been beat with a sexy stick, so clearly, despite his lackluster duo of emotional levels (he can show you "intense" or--wait for it--"intenser"), Owen obviously steals the show. Naomi Watts is sadly just there for filler. Owen's dark gaze is set to "high smolder," and caught up in the smolderyness of it all, you really, really want him to bring this bank down.

But that's one man attempting the impossible. Hate to spoil it for you (if wikipedia hasn't already, that is), but in battles with big business, big business usually wins. Even when some other guy wins, big business wins. How do I figure? Because big business runs shit. And that other guy? He's a little shit. So guess what? Big business runs that other guy.

Clive Owen's character, Louis Salinger, is "that other guy." He works for Interpol (The International Criminal Police Organization), which basically is the world police. They stop people your local sheriff doesn't know about. But they can only move as wide or aim as high as the worldwide corruption of the justice system will allow them to go. And alas, Salinger just doesn't get it. The final showdown between Salinger and the CEO of the fictional International Bank of Business and Credit (played cockily by Ulrich Thomsen) finally impresses upon Salinger his "little shit" status. You can chase, you can fight, you can investigate and hack away at the evidence as much as you want. But cut one arm off, Sali, and it'll grow right back. 'Cause that's how big banks roll.

It's a little...underwhelming to note that as the key takeaway from the film--not because we can't handle the truth, but because we get the sense that Salinger can't. It felt like all this intensity was building and building--and ultimately it was for nothing. Salinger, naive and alone, has driven all his energy into this single quest. And for what? For me to eat stale popcorn and wonder if his eyes are naturally that blue? Fine. Great success. But next time I want to see Clive Owen looking volatile and depressed, I think I'll just watch KING ARTHUR. Can't say no to chain mail.

plot: One man against the bank.
thought: Can I get cash back?
in five: 2.5/5

recess THIS!: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/theinternational/site/