The International (2009/Sony Blu-ray)
Picture: B+
Sound: B+ Extras: C Film: C+
Tom Tykwer made such a mess and disaster out of Perfume (2006) that despite some good
reviews and box office in some parts of the world, he has not made a film for
three years. With Run Lola Run (1998) still the hit that keeps his name alive, it is
no surprise that he would return to that territory for The International (2009), a thriller about a British agent (Clive
Owen) working for Interpol and becoming involved with a Manhattan D.A. (Naomi
Watts) when breaking an international arms plot becomes more complicated than
expected.
Those familiar with the hit Spy TV series Department S (1969, reviewed elsewhere
on this site) will know that a British agent at Interpol is no new idea, but
Eric Singer’s screenplay here is not as clever or complex as the better
episodes of that show, though it has its ambitions. Unfortunately, though starting with some
promise, the film eventually trips over itself and though co-stars Owen and
Watts are on the rise and have some chemistry, that is not enough to overcome
the problems and clichés we eventually run into.
Locations are fine and there is money on the screen, but
by the time we reach The Guggenheim Museum, the film goes over the top, never
recovers and becomes a howler of a film when it is supposed to be serious. Tykwer has lost his discipline as a director
and though Watts and Owen get to pick and choose their projects carefully, this
will not help or hurt them as much as Tykwer.
They are trying to make this work.
Armin Mueller-Stahl even shows up, but this never adds up and the high
gloss technology will date quickly.
The 1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image is
interesting in being a combination of Super 35mm filming and some 65mm negative
shots, though no 70mm blow-up of the film was issued. Still, Tykwer’s Director of Photography Frank
Griebe delivers a good-looking commercial film and the 65mm shots especially
shine in this transfer. The Dolby True
HD TrueHDDigital 5.1 mix is well
made, also has some rich surrounds that kick in nicely during the action scenes
and is a better mix that expected.
Extras include four interesting making of featurettes (three devoted to
the location shoots), an extended scene, Digital Copy for PC and PC portable
devices to see a low def version of the film and BD Live interactive features
including newer Cinechot features to e-mail people about the film. Talk about bells and whistles.
- Nicholas Sheffo
