Review of film: "THE TOURIST" (with Jolie & Depp in a chase thriller)

Review of film “THE TOURIST”

In 2005, a French movie named “ANTHONY ZIMMER” was released.  Some of the basic plot ideas in that film (directed by Jérôme Salle) have been utilized in a new American REMAKE called“THE TOURIST”…

…  As the new film starts, law enforcement men in Paris are monitoring the movements of a strikingly beautiful woman named Elise Clifton-Ward (ANGELINA JOLIE).  It soon becomes clear that this is an international effort, because they report to a British agent in London named Acheson (PAUL BETTANY), who instructs them on just what he wants done regarding her…  One of Paul’s bosses is named Jones (TIMOTHY DALTON), a man who leads a “shadowy” existence…

…  When a mysterious note is delivered to Angelina at a restaurant, a lot of police actions are initiated.  We learn that she’s being followed not only by the law enforcement agencies, but by a bunch of vicious THUGS under the command of Ivan Demidov (a/k/a a name like “Shaw”, played by STEVEN BERKOFF)… 

…  Even more important, none of them really want HER--  they want her to lead them to a MAN she used to be romantically involved with, since he’d been involved in some high-stakes monetary machinations… 

…  Angelina works to follow the instructions in the note she got, & purposely picks out someone to associate with who looks a bit like her EX-LOVER, so as to “throw-off” the groups she knows are following her.  The guy she chooses is a scruffy, bearded math teacher named Frank Tupelo (JOHNNY DEPP), who’s overwhelmed but pleased at her apparent “interest” in him…

…  All this leads up to an increasingly frenetic series of CHASE scenes (on land & on the canals of Venice), deceptions, murder attempts, and a fascinating bunch of TWISTS & TURNS of plot & characters…     

…  WHY are the police & thugs so interested in Angelina’s ex-lover?...  Is she an unusually adept “innocent”, or has she had some TRAINING in the planning & escape techniques she keeps utilizing?... 

…  Why does she continue having contact with JOHNNY, when the police have clearly come to the conclusion she’s misled them & that he’s NOT the ex-lover they wanted her to lead them to?...  Why does Johnny keep going out of his way to COOPERATE with Angelina, when his life keeps being put in DANGER?...  Is the “chemistry” there REAL?...

…  Will Angelina lead them to the real EX-LOVER?...  Is it the ex-lover -- or something he HAS -- that the police & Ivan really want?... Will the THUGS “get” to Angelina or Johnny?...  Will the COPS get to them?...  What’s going to happen “BETWEEN” all the characters?!...

…  There’s a lot of questions that will be ANSWERED in this quick-moving, fascinating thriller…  It’s classy, CLEVER in its plot twists & ideas, well paced & very WELL-ACTED between the main characters… 

…  The movie is not “ground-breaking” in any way, & you could “belittle” it on some points of logic like how a [693-mile] train ride from Paris to Venice could ever be concluded over the length of a “dinner” meal… 

…  But, because of the overall EFFECTIVENESS of the film, I’m rating it as a “FUN” ride of 8.75 out of 10 stars…

Review of film "THE FIGHTER" ( about 2 boxers in a family )

Review of film:  “THE FIGHTER”

I know this may come as a “shock” to you--  but this is a movie based on a “TRUE STORY” (as most seem to be this year!)…  Almost as surprising is, it’s really WELL-DONE…

…  “The Pride of Lowell”.  That’s a title that was given to 20-year-old Massachusetts boxer Dickie Eklund when he fought famed Sugar Ray Leonard in 1978 & supposedly knocked him out.  As the movie starts, a much older Dickie (played by CHRISTIAN BALE) is eagerly TELLING people the story of that event…

…  Dickie --  nearly “bouncing-off-the-walls” --  tells a camera crew (which he believes is filming the story of his life & his planned “COMEBACK” in boxing) how great he was, & how he now [as of 1985] was also helping out his (much quieter & more reserved) half-brother Micky Ward (MARK WAHLBERG) in his OWN boxing career…

…  But, there are PROBLEMS a-plenty:  Mark’s career has been run by his very aggressive & close-minded mother Alice Ward (MELISSA LEO), whose main concerns seem to be what SHE wants done in life.  Most of her 6 Eklund daughters seem to parrot what Melissa says & does (while the one Ward daughter tends to be on Mark’s side)… 

…  Her husband George (JACK McGEE) clearly sees how her actions are HURTING Mark & his career, but he finds it hard to get his thoughts across to his self-absorbed & often-violent wife… His “corner” man (a policeman friend of the family) also sees that Christian is an UNRELIABLE person to supposedly be “training” Mark, & doesn’t even want him around Mark in the gym…

…  Little-by-little, we see WHY Jack & the cop don’t trust Christian & keep trying to point out to Mark how he’s UNRELIABLE:  he’s become a DRUG ADDICT & CRIMINAL (in part to support his habit), & the camera crew is NOT filming the story of his “comeback”--  they’re really filming a documentary titled “HIGH ON CRACK STREET:  LIVES LOST IN LOWELL”…

…  Mark is shown to be a sincere, honest & good-hearted guy, often trying to spend time with a tweenish daughter he’d had with an ex-girlfriend…  In a bar, he chances to meet a smart & tough barmaid named Charlene Fleming (AMY ADAMS), who – after being hesitant with him at first--  realizes his good qualities & accepts his growing romantic interest in her…

…  Since Amy wants to see good things happen for Mark, that puts her at “loggerheads” with his mom Melissa, since Amy keeps encouraging Mark that it’d be best for him to get AWAY from having his mother & Christian involved with his career, as they’re HURTING him overall…  That forceful position also causes friction with the low-life Eklund sisters…

…  The film delves deeply into the relationships of the family -- especially the half-brothers --, & the TRAINING that Mark undergoes after Christian is sent “AWAY” & after he returns & tries to get re-involved in Mark’s boxing career…  There are numerous details about the FIGHTS Mark endures, & what happens between the various characters…

…  Will Christian ever get his life in “ORDER”?...  Will Melissa ever accept AMY as someone who’s important to Mark?...  Will Mark ever WIN any fights?...  Will he get close to the CHAMPIONSHIP he covets?...  What will happen between him & Amy?...

…  In certain ways, you’ve “seen” the BASIC idea of this story before--  the “Rocky”-like way a disrespected boxer tries to move UP in the world professionally & personally…  But, what’s special in this (besides the fine cinematography) is the ACTING:

…  Christian Bale gives another EXCEPTIONAL performance, & is deserving of an OSCAR-nomination for his work.  The same is also true for MELISSA’s (supporting) work as the oblivious, self-centered mother, & AMY for her forceful & serious work as the girlfriend…  Mark’s performance is enormously good, but it’s a purposely-“understated” (comparatively “quiet” & “mild”) role compared to the others mentioned…

…  Because of the fine work in the film, I’m grading it as 8.75 out of 10 stars…