The Tourist
‘The Tourist’ is an American romantic thriller film, released in 2010 and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. It is produced by Graham King, Timothy Headington, Roger Birnbaum, Gary Barber and Jonathan Glickman. It is believed to be a remake of a 2005 French film called ‘Anthony Zimmer’ by Jerome Salle. The film stars Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, Timothy Dalton and others. It was nominated for three Golden Globes: Best Musical or Comedy, Best Actor – Musical or Comedy for Depp and Best Actress – Musical or Comedy for Jolie.
A mysterious British woman named Elise (Jolie) meets a quiet, unobtrusive American tourist named Frank (Depp) on a train journey from Paris to Venice. They start talking and Elise invites Frank to share a hotel room. As the plot develops, the audience gets the feeling that the innocent Frank is being used as some sort of decoy. The beautiful Elise appears to be mixed up on one side with some ruthless gangsters and running from Scotland Yard agents on the other. Somewhere in the background, never seen, is her ex-lover called Alexander Pierce, who had stolen 2.3 billion dollars from the non-compromising gangster, Reginald Shaw.
The film is shot scenically, bringing out the beauty of Venice perfectly by the Oscar-winning cinematographer, John Seale. The pace is good, keeping us in suspense about the protagonists and their intentions. I particularly enjoyed a scene that combined suspense and comedy seamlessly (pun intended), wherein the villain discusses his suit with his tailor whilst instructing his violent thugs. Jolie delivers a superb performance and is utterly convincing as the stunning, enigmatic stranger with a hidden agenda. Johnny Depp delivers a charming performance as the innocent traveller who gets caught in a web of intrigue and danger and who finds himself drawn irresistibly to Elise, with the chemistry between the leads being excellent. The performances, direction, locations and mood in this film are great for all spy-romance lovers. The suspense keeps one engaged till the very end. Some may be reminded of the glamour of Hitchcock films. A must-watch for everyone who enjoys intrigue and romance.
Disclaimer: The above review solely illustrates the views of the writer.