While The International’s plot seems perfectly suited to the dire financial times in which we live in, the opportunity is lost in what amounts to a competent thriller that becomes less plausible as it progresses. Regardless, a glorious fifteen minute shootout at the Guggenheim Museum that is as intense and gripping as anything put on film is worth the price of admission alone.

The film stars Clive Owen as Louis Salinger, an Interpol agent who along with US assistant district attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) are out for justice after they suspect a colleague might have met a cruel end at the hands of a ruthless international bank. As their investigations proceed they discover the nefarious plans of the monetary institution go much deeper than they could have ever imagined including arms dealing, funding terrorism and murder.

The great: Stephen Colbert once stated that Clive Owen was one of ten things, along with baby carrots, that are trying to turn him gay. I can understand that sentiment. The man has an intensity and morose charm that makes every single one of his scenes a pleasure to watch. While Owen is still in Children of Men mode in this film he has definitely reinterpreted the action hero for a new generation.

As mentioned previously the ferocious shoot-out at the Guggenheim is so beautifully staged that even though the rest of the film fails to match the level of excitement it is still an incredible experience.

The good: It is refreshing to see an international bank portrayed as evil incarnate as the story manages to reflect the zeitgeist perfectly. While I can imagine we’ll be seeing a barrage of evil banker films in the near future hopefully they’ll explore the great concept more in-depth than this film.

Naomi Watts, in a glorified supporting role, could have been given more to do as the scenes where she is absent tend to lack a certain level of realism. Watts has always managed to emotionally ground whatever she is in and is somewhat under used here.

The not so good: What starts off as a gripping thriller of incredible relevance becomes a poor Bourne clone in the final act. The film sets a high standard in the first hour and is left with nowhere to go resorting to convoluted plot twists that create a pedestrian thriller.

The International fails to meet the promise the premise holds and becomes more plodding and somewhat stale as it moves to a conclusion. For an action film it’s too slow and for a thriller it’s not consistently exciting enough to entertain. Regardless of this, for fifteen minutes of gun fuelled mayhem the movie is an absolute pleasure

The International opens in cinemas today.
You can view The International trailer here on TheVine.