With an eye on today’s financial crisis, Clive Owen, an Interpol agent, seeks to uncover the nefarious arms dealings of a multi-national bank, working closely with a Manhattan assistant district attorney played superbly well by Naomi Watts.
The cast is suiably fit for each of their roles, but I’d like to call attention to Armin Mueller-Stahl who portrays the bank’s senior world-weary attorney – who knows better, but has become ensnared “in the ways of the world."
I couldn’t help but think of so many otherwise decent folk who become entangled in the schemes of power because they choose to close their eyes. A tragedy, indeed, that can only end as it does.
The ultimate source of evil is the head of the bank - well-dressed and surrounded by toadies – done well by Ulrich Thomsen - powerful and full of himself, self appointed royalty - he’s taking chances way beyond the limits of reason, and now, having brought the bank to the edge of the precipice purchasing arms on the margin to later sell to a rogue government, he can only fight all the harder to eliminate any and all threats, while manipulating international relationships with assassinations.
A financial expert suggested that such dealings were more fanciful than real, and that may be the case, But the story hits home: banks have taken risks way beyond reason, for want of internal restraint and lack of external oversight, bringing the entire banking industry to ruin.
The film is well-paced, and if you like gun fights, here's one of the best, in of all places, the Guggenheim Museum.
“The International” is a story for our time, and it’s fun to watch!
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