When I saw the trailer of The Tourist (2010), I resolved to watch it simply because of the unexpected pairing of Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie in a romantic thriller. I wanted to see if their chemistry would be convincing and whether they would bring some personality to the film. I wasn't disappointed.
Co-written and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, The Tourist is an American romantic thriller starring Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, Paul Bettany, Timothy Dalton and other supporting actors. As the title suggests, the movie is centred around Frank (Johnny Depp) who is supposed to be an ordinary tourist enjoying Venice after the end of a relationship. There is also Elise (Angelina Jolie) who is in Venice waiting for her mysterious lover, Alexander Pearce, a man wanted by French police, Scotland Yard and a gangster, Reginald Shaw (Steven Berkoff) for stolen money.
At this point in the movie, you would want to know who exactly is the tourist. Is it Frank, an ordinary mathematics teacher, who arrives in Venice without knowing that he is walking into a dangerous game? Or is it Elise, the elegant lady, who is being followed around by people trying to figure out who she really is?
There is something suspicious about Elise from the first scene. She moves through Paris looking calm and poised while the police follow her around. Pearce sends her instructions to choose a stranger on the train who resembles him so that the police and Shaw's men will believe they have finally found their man. Unfortunately for Frank, he happens to fit the description.
Suddenly, Frank's quiet trip becomes a chase involving the police, gangsters, boats, hotel rooms and people who seem to know much more than he does. What is really going on and where is Alexander Pearce?
My Review And Rating
Somewhere from about ten minutes into the movie, you will notice that the plot is a bit muddled. It's a solid, intriguing plot that blends romantic comedy with thriller. But how the storyline plays out causes confusion until the end when the conflict is resolved and everything makes sense. Also, the ensemble cast gives this movie a charm that draws in the audience but I feel the directors make little use of their star actors.
The cast performance is laudable. Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie are the biggest reason I watched this movie. Jolie fits Elise beautifully. She has that old-fashioned movie star elegance that the film wants from her. There is a scene where she gets Frank to invite her to dinner without actually asking him directly. It tells a lot about her personality without needing a long explanation. Depp on the other hand is a little strange in this movie. I expected more of the playful, mischievous Depp we often get in films but Frank is mostly quiet, awkward and bewildered. I understand that this is part of the character but I kept wishing the movie would give him more spark.
The romance part was averagely okay but I wanted more from Jolie and Depp. We see they are romantically involved but their emotional connection wasn't convincing enough for me. Frank is clearly fascinated by her while Elise knows she is putting him in danger yet they play on. Their dinner, the hotel scenes and the moments when Frank tries to understand what is happening gives this movie some romantic side. But you would wonder if Elise is genuinely attracted to Frank or he is simply part of her plan. I think this confusion dampened whatever emotional connection the actors could have portrayed.
There is a big reveal towards the end but I won't spell it out because I think this movie is more fun when you discover it yourself. But I will say the film spends so much time making us question Frank's identity that the final answer feels like the natural destination of the whole mystery. It also give Depp’s character a different meaning when you look back at his earlier scenes.
The supporting cast is also packed with good actors. Paul Bettany beings some energy to Inspector Acheson whole Timothy Dalton and Steven Berkoff have interesting roles yet I feel the movie doesn't always give them enough to work with.
The cinematography is good and the visuals are impressive. I enjoyed the scenery displays. Venice is gorgeous, the hotels are luxurious and Jolie looks stunning.
Rating this movie, I’d give it 7 out of 10 stars. The Tourist is one of those movies where the atmosphere does most of the work. The setting is great, Venice looks beautiful and the mystery keeps you glued to the screen even when the plot starts stretching credibility. But it has enough charm to give an enjoyable watching experience.
All images above are screenshots from the movie
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Rating: 70/100
