The Tourist

The expectations were high on this one. When movie goers get to watch actors like Anjelina Jolie and Johnny Depp for the first time sharing the big... read more

The expectations were high on this one. When movie goers get to watch actors like Anjelina Jolie and Johnny Depp for the first time sharing the big screen under Florian Henkel Von Donnersmarck direction, it is bound to seem a bit interesting for everone. As Mr. Depp plays the part of a tourist who ventures the historical city of Venice as Frank Tupelo Miss Jolie seems to have a special interest in him. As men keep ogling on seeing the ravishing beauty of the Elise Clifton-Ward she has her eyes set on Mr. Depp after all.

In short, she plays the game of hide and seek with the Scotland Yard who is actually looking for her lover, Alexander Pearce for some monetary fraud he has committed in billions. SO the plan is to simply make Mr. Depp seem like Alexander Pearce and lead the cops into trailing them rather than the actual convict. The fights, chasing scenes and not to forget the Jolie factor is what the movie is all about. And not to forget Jack Sparrow is the most screened loved actor of all times. As said Angelina actually took mannerism classes for this role and seems so, that not even a single glance of hers has been wasted on any frivolous move.

As for the story, though a little weak still its makes up for the screen presence of the A-list stars that stud the movie with their charm. Overall not a bad movie to watch.
view less

Internal bias: I find Angelina Jolie scaryAnd this move does nothing to relieve me of my fear. That dark eyeliner, those big lips, that lank lifele... read more

Internal bias: I find Angelina Jolie scary

And this move does nothing to relieve me of my fear. That dark eyeliner, those big lips, that lank lifeless hair in a Bindiya Goswami hairstyle (straight and long at back, bangs in the front),that zombie walk. And she is there in every scene of this slow motion supposed to be thriller.

Johnny Depp fares no better as the accidental tourist caught in the trap of Vampire Jolie. Portly and with bad hair again, he at least looks like a bumbling tourist. It beats me why Madame Vampire should fall for him in 3 minutes flat. As the Inspector tells her I wish I could understand your taste in men..Yeah, me too.

The chases (whatever pathetic few there are) take place in the canals of Venice in slow moving lumbering boats so you know how exciting the movie will be. You want to hit the fast forward button just to see some speed on screen.

The only interesting thing in the movie is the electronic cigarette that Depp smokes. The rest is all straight out of some amateur school play where looking blank and giving small tight smiles means looking mysterious and deadly.

When you have Tees Maar Khan as your other weekend option you really dont have much to think about. I think even Toonpur ka superhero may be better than Vampire woman. Avoid.
view less

A dream star cast, a fantastic location, an interesting plot but alas a weak screenplay leaves you distasteful. One more example which proves that ... read more

A dream star cast, a fantastic location, an interesting plot but alas a weak screenplay leaves you distasteful. One more example which proves that screenplay is the real hero of the movie and not the actors or special effects.

Frank Tupelo (Johnny Depp) is a tourist visiting Europe. He runs into a mysterious woman Elise(Angelina Jolie), who happens to be the love of a wanted criminal Alexander Pearce. Alexander only communicates with Elise through written messages and on his directions Elise sets out to mesmerize Frank by her looks and charm. All this flirting is a part of a plan to throw the cops off guard and side track them from Alexander's trail. Meanwhile the gangster from whom Alexander had stolen the money track Elise's movement and start hunting for Alexander. Frank takes Elise's flirting seriously and falls in love with her and eventually in the course of their adventure Elise reciprocates the love. The climax reveals a very predictable suspense.

Story conception wise this movie had a pretty strong asset. Its the screenplay which makes the end product flawed. Where the pace of the movie should have been fast, edgy and nail biting, it was fairly slow to the angst of the viewer. The background score is non existent in portions. The only thing that worked in favor was the dialogs. Especially the portions where Johnny Depp keeps answering in spanish when people are speaking to him in french or Italian was pretty funny to watch.

The scenes shot in actual Venice look beautiful. The Venice set simulated in Vegas and Hollywood not so much and appear fake from the onset. Overall the cinematography was good and one of the highlights of watching this movie.

Johnny Depp is one of the finest actors and one of my favorites. But it was as though he got bored half way through the movie. The soul of his acting, usually seen in abundance, is amiss. Angelina Jolie looks too old for some reason. But she does a fine job on the acting front.

Director and writer Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck pulled off a casting coup somehow which generated interest in this movie. If this movie did not have Depp and Jolie and had some lesser known actors, I doubt if it would have gotten the footage that it has now. Having said that Donnersmarck was pretty good when he donned the director's hat but missed a couple of tricks when he penned the screenplay.

Rating:
Depp/Jolie fan? Watch their old classics instead.
Love action/dramas? Catch it on DVD
Date Movie? Go fo it.

Repeat value: None. view less

Synopsis:Elise (Angelina Jolie) is being followed by the Scotland Yard to track down an elusive international thief, Alexander Pearce. Alexander ha... read more

Synopsis:

Elise (Angelina Jolie) is being followed by the Scotland Yard to track down an elusive international thief, Alexander Pearce. Alexander has stolen from mobster Reginald Shaw (Steven Berkoff) and owes millions as tax dues to the U.K. Inspector John Acheson (Paul Bettany) and his Chief Inspector Jones (Timothy Dalton) believe that Alexander will touch base with Elise in Paris hence the surveillance. From the remains of a burnt letter left by Elise in a caf, Achesons team come to know that she will be boarding the train to Venice from Gare Du Nord. What he realizes later, is that Alexander has instructed Elise to find a person who resembles him and mislead the cops and the gangster into believing the stranger to be Alexander. Thus Elise sets her eyes on Frank Tupelo, an American Math teacher from Wisconsin, who is travelling single in order to get over the bereavement of his wife. Due to Elises advances towards Frank, the Russian goons of Shaw and the agents of Acheson now begin a race to nab Frank first before he disappears again. In the meanwhile, Elise receives an invitation to a ball from Alexander, all this whilst a mysterious Englishman (Rufus Sewell) hangs around in the background, appearing everywhere that Elise goes.


Rating: 3/10

Y3:

Direction: The script was more or less inspired by the 2005 French romantic thriller Anthony Zimmer, yet it lacks the romance as well as the pace of a thriller. Almost an hour into the film one actually can dose off and get up after about 15 minutes and you wouldnt have missed a thing! The direction by Florian Henckel Von Donnersmack (The Lives of Others) is pale. As if he did not know what was he supposed to do with a premise such as this nor with the star cast of the two of the rarest talents of todays times. He neither manages to evoke any chemistry between Jolie & Depp, neither does he manage to raise the character of Acheson more than that of a caricature. The obsession that Acheson has to catch Pearce comes across as unwarranted. The background score James Newton Howard, instead of adding to the tension, comes across as comical! Florian had an opportunity with this one to be a modern day Hitchcock, but fails.

Jolie: has nothing to do other than look beautiful. I am personally offended by the close up of her arse in the opening sequence of the film, which may I add, is the only thrilling part in this bland film. Why does Jolies loyalty change? What if she had not picked on Frank? Too many loopholes, filled only for the sake of convenience. Yet one cannot deny the charisma that she has and this is the reason why by her just being onscreen at times, is enough.

Depp: seems as if he has been shuffling between the shoots of Tourist & the next Pirates episode. The same drawl, sleepy eyed approach makes one wonder why did he select this film? As mentioned by him in a recent interview, after the Director says cut he does not interfere/ bother with the final outcome. I wish he would have for this one, as Florian is no Tim Burton with whom Depp shares an excellent rapport with.

Overall a waste of time even for people who want to see Jolies derriere.


Does it have The Y Factor :NO!


http://www.yusufpoonawala.c om/2010/12/tourist.html
view less

nice movie