The International DVD

The International
 
This is possibly one of the best thrillers I have seen in a very long time. Since his performance in Closer in 2005, it seems that Clive Owen has gone from strength to strength. With performances in Sin City, Shoot 'Em Up and Children of Men he proved that he was someone who could not only carry a scene, but could carry a whole film aswell.
 
The International tells the story of Interpol Agent Louis Salinger (Owen) and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) and their investigation into the corrupt deals of the International Bank of Business and Credit. This is a bank which funds and supports terrorist activities. Discovering a deal to sell arms, Salinger and Whitman go through many avenues to gain the evidence that they need to bring the bank down. A bank, who are always one step ahead of them and ruthless in their methods to silence people who threaten them in any way.
 
Skilfully directed by Tom Tykwer, who created the classic Run Lola Run, The International is one of those films that will have you transfixed once you have pressed play. This isn't the kind of film you can have on the background, it is a film where if you blink you will miss something vitally important. Writing by Eric Singer is tight and though I'm sure you could question the actions of some characters, what is great about the writing is that Tykwer simply doesn't give you time to think about them. It is a film of double crosses galore and you'll spend a good majority of the film trying to figure who will betray who next. My only quibble is that the ending is rather bleak, but it will also make you finish the film hoping that a sequel will be made to carry on the story.
 
Special Features includes a commentary by Director Tom Tykwer and writer Eric Singer, which is a nice and interesting walk through the film which provides even more background to the film's creation and is not just self-indulgent as some can be. Also included, is one deleted sequence which shows more the paranoia of the Clive Owen character and also gives a bit of depth to the relationship between him and Naomi Watts. It's a shame there is no commentary on this as it is an excellent sequence and I'd like to have known why it was cut, thought as it is over ten minutes it maybe because of time limits. Making of Documentary which analyzes the film from concept to execution, trailers and then Three Featurettes that concern shooting locations particularly, the Guggenheim which is one of the most amazingly intense action scenes of the film.
 
The International is a great film which really makes you question just what these corporations are really up to when we give them our money to invest. Is it going towards something good… or could we all be part of The International?