Many critics have provided movie goers with their critical analyses about the faux-Hitchcockian guessing-game film, The Tourist, even before it was shown to the public. The scrutiny from the so-called film experts mostly described the film boring, unappealing, uninteresting, substanceless film, and many more negative remarks. The unfavorable criticisms took a different toll on me; ergo, picked my curiosity even more, and the I decided to watch it and see it with my own eye. I came to the theatre with an insensate, and minimal expectations for the film to avoid any bias.
The film opened with Elise ( Angelina Jolie) who portrays a less evocative Audrey Hepburn, walking out of a prestigious hotel in Paris, wearing a monochromatic ensemble while sipping coffee on a sidewalk café. Meanwhile, CIA agents were eyeing her from the distance; watching her every move to get some clues and information about her supposed lover Alexander Pierce—a man who stole millions of dollars from a British business tycoon.
On a train ride, Elise met with Frank Tupelo (Johhny Depp), a mathematics teacher from America who is supposedly a tourist exploring Europe.The storyline continued with a chasing; puzzle-like plot, where Elise’s was summoned through letters from Alexander; Elise’s elegant wardrobes; and panoramic European locations. Finally, the two fell in love. Elise, who once in love with Alexander, and has been trying to protect him from the British officials, gave up and decided to give Alexander to the British authorities.
After watching the film, I looked back at the critic’s voice, and I understood why they felt the film extremely boring. Critics were looking for an Angelina-type of movie where she was expected to jump off the building, chase and wreck some cars, and operate a state-of-the-art, high powered, automatic weapon. Sadly, this film will not treat you with those kinds of action stunts. The film, though it seems like an action movie, frankly, is not. While the film is not a psychological thriller, ironically, the film is comparable to that of Matt Damons’s The Talented Mr. Ripley. To pick your curiosity, I will not tell you why I compared it to Anthony Minghella’s film in 1999—The Talented Mr. Ripley. Find out for yourself.
The German director Florian Henckle von Donnersmarck, whose debut film, The Lives of Others, won the Oscars a few years back, did an amazing job, in my opinion, in bringing out the working chemistry from the two prominent actors in Hollywood. Don’t expect Salt-like plot, or Mr and Mrs. Smith action, rather expect a nice, entertaining, smart, and full of climatic sequence storyline. Jolie and Depp, indeed created a well- balanced partnership regardless of their off-screen personalities. Unlike, Jolie’s previous films, where she was being typecasted with action films, The Tourist, on a contrary, is a twist from a current crime thriller genre that surely calmed down Jolie’s femme-fatale character ; but maintaining her old, diva, Hollywood glamor appeal on the screen.
Finally, I do not agree with most of the critics about their negative remarks. Just a good ole reminder, come watch the film without expectations and leave your perceptions from Jolie’s and Depp’s previous films, and you will not be dissapointed. Movies are meant to have different characters, settings, acting styles, and plots; so why expect the same drama, acting, character from your favorite stars? For this film I give 3 stars.
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