Tourism and the Film Industry

2010 brought us romantic travel thriller by Academy Award winning director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, 'The Tourist', the film tells the story of a mysterious british woman who picks up an american tourist on a train, the film was panned by critics on release, yet it went on to be nominated for 3 golden globes, including Best Picture-Musical of Comedy. Given the largely negative critical reaction, and being a fan of the films leads i was interested in what my reaction would be.

Actually i thought that it was really rather good, despite having a rather clunky script, the story is surprisingly original, and is not something we have seen for many years, spy movies not being particularly popular, and in fact besides James Bond, Angelina Jolie's SALT might be the last true original spy film in a while. The films plot is also different, whereas in many action films such as Knight and Day, it is the man who is trained and experienced, and the heroine is simply some random person whis is simply along for the ride. This film turns the tables with the heroine being the professional, and the guy being 'the tourist', and regails us with an interesting plot that has many twists and turns that manage to grab our attention and make this a thoroughly entertaining thrill ride.

The film is also incredibly slick, neither Venice nor Paris have ever looked better on film, and the editing style of the film is very smooth and polish and rather slick, which suits the clear and crisp film style.  The performances are mainly good, with Jolies performance as a standout, she somehow manages to add a humanity and personality to a character who appears at first glance to be cold and intimidating, and so closed off that she would seem to lack a personality were it not for the talents of Jolie. Bringing up the rear is a talented cohort which includes Paul Bettany, Rufus Sewell and Timothy Dalton. The only exception is Johnny Depp, whose performance in the film is terrible, i mean really really Rihanna in battleship terrible. He has virtually no expressions and fails to sell the intriguing plot twist at the end, a real Kristen Stewart one might say, but with less hair touching.

Overall the film is yes, forgettable, and yes a little clichéd, but neither Venice nor Paris, nor indeed Angelina Jolie have ever looked better on film, she really looks amazing, and manages to sell the femme fatale aspect of her character even in her walk. The film is supreme entertainment and manages to be daring, stylish sexy and fun, all in the same instant, and manages to refrain from the typically unintentionally funny lines we have now come to expect and loathe from the twilight caliber of films. In short, not an amazingly good film, but a fun entertaining thrilling romp, with the divine Angelina Jolie...enough said! Rating:B+ Any chance of a comment? Did anyone else see the tourist? Did anyone else enjoy it, i know i did! Any disagreements? Let me know

Elise Clifton-Ward: You read spy novels. I'm the mysterious woman on the train, you tell me what my story is.