Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s first American studio film, The Tourist is no cinematic masterpiece, like his intense dramatic thriller, The Lives Of Others, set in formerly divided East Berlin. It is a stunningly beautiful Hollywood remake of a 2005 French film, Anthony Zimmer, with James Bond-like action. What, or rather who, makes The Tourist so mesmerizing is Angelina Jolie. Nothing against the beauty of Johnny Depp or its bellissima Venice location, but you simply can’t take your eyes off Jolie.
Jolie’s character in The Tourist does share some similarities as the equally gorgeous Martina Gedeck’s Christa-Maria, in the Lives Of Others. Targeted because of the man she loves, she too finds herself in a dangerous situation. However, Jolie’s Elise Ward is no victim.
While Jolie grabs all the attention, Johnny Depp unremarkably plays an unassuming American tourist. Once the surprise twist is revealed at the end, his downplayed role may make sense, although, most likely, the audience will feel swindled by the contrived conclusion.
In Pursuit of Alexander Pearce
Buffoon-ish Interpol policemen, led by Scotland Yard’s Inspector John Acheson (Paul Bettany), are covertly watching Elise Ward (Angelina Jolie), the known lover of notorious criminal at-large Alexander Pearce, as orders her usual breakfast at a Paris café. Unexpectedly, a courier arrives to deliver an envelope. Suspecting the courier may be Alexander Pearce, who recently underwent plastic surgery to disguise himself, a team of cops grab him.
Meanwhile, Elise reads instructions, which she is to burn after reading, to board a train to Venice, and choose a man of similar weight and height to him to throw off her watchers. While Elise dashes off to complete her directive, Acheson has the burnt letter reassembled. He soon deciphers that she is to create a charade, in order to secretly meet Pearce in Venice. With the police in tow, Elise ultimately approaches a dumbfounded Frank Tupelo (Johnny Depp), a Math teacher from Wisconsin on holiday.
Under police surveillance, they share a flirtatious dinner, but once they arrive in Venice, Elise goes her separate way. When the photo taken of Frank comes to prove he’s just a tourist, not the infamous Pearce, Acheson’s superior (Timothy Dalton) ends the costly investigation. Determined to catch Pearce no matter the cost, Acheson proceeds with his mission. Meanwhile, a police mole contacts Pearce’s former employer, Shaw (Steven Berkoff), a ruthless underworld criminal, who surrounds himself with Russian thugs, that Frank is the post-surgery Alexander.
A romance develops as Frank and Elise collide with Shaw via a boat chase on the canals, that culminates with ruse at a grand Venetian ball.
The Cast and Crew of The Tourist
- Stars Angeline Jolie, Johnny Depp, Paul Betthany, Timothy Dalton, Steven Berkoff and Rufus Sewell.
- Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (The Lives Of Others / Das Leben der Anderen). Written by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, Christopher McQuarrie and Julian Fellowes.
- Cinematography by John Seale. Edited by Joe Hutshing and Patricia Rommel. Production design by Jon Hutman.
- Produced by Graham King, Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum and Tim Headington. Executive producers are Ron Halpern and Lloyd Phillips. US distribution by Columbia Pictures.
The Tourist opens in theaters nationwide on December 10, 2010
- Running Time: 104 min
- Rated: PG-13; for violence and brief strong language
