The International's Timely Release

8 months ago 07th Mar 08:15

By Rachel Jones

Rarely is a film released with such impeccable timing. Just weeks before 'The International' hit cinemas, the world's economy began to crumble and before long, the world was in the grips of a financial crisis.

All of a sudden, banks were the most evil enemy - and Tom Twyker's gripping thriller brings this monetary fear to a completely different level.

'The International' sees Clive Owen star as Interpol Agent Louis Salinger, who makes it his personal mission to bring justice to one of the world's most powerful - and powerfully corrupt - banks.

The agent is joined by Leanor Whitman, a Manhattan Assistant District Attorney played by Naomi Watts.

Together, they set out to bring down the crooked corporation they eventually find to be guilty of innumerable illegal activities - including murder, money laundering and plans to destabilise Third-World governments.

widespread fraud and manipulation

The film was inspired by the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) scandal in the early 1990s - which saw the forced closure of the BCCI after a report was published which said the bank has engaged in "widespread fraud and manipulation".

Since filming finished early last year, the plotline has become increasingly topical.

The lead characters Louis and Leanor guide the audience through an action-packed journey which questions the behaviour of these presumably reliable establishments.

Clive thinks the film's strength is its ability to provoke viewers to challenge authorities.

He said: "Yes, it's a big entertaining thriller, but it does ask questions and opens up doors to question whether banks use people's money appropriately and whether they're completely sound institutions.

"And that's what everybody's doing right now, with what's going on in the last year."

Clive - who starred in the socially explorative 'Children of Men' and won a Golden Globe and BAFTA for his work on 'Closer' - insists this movie challenged his skills as an actor.

As the storyline follows the movement of money through multiple locations around the world - from Berlin to Milan, New York and even Istanbul - Clive and Naomi felt the added pressure of working on the move.

Clive said: "When you're travelling on a film like this, to different locations, you do hit the ground running. There's a whole team that's waiting for you, that's all ready to go.

"You arrive, there's no real time to acclimatise, you hit the ground running and you start shooting. Luckily, on this film, there were incredible locations and they were all great places."

One of the most skillfully-orchestrated scenes in the action movie sees Clive's character destroy New York City's beautiful Guggenheim museum in a cleverly-filmed gun battle.

The audience won't be surprised to learn that this is yet another movie that sees the 46-year-old actor wielding guns, driving dangerously and being clobbered by burly men.