Thanks to Sony Pictures, I was invited to see perhaps one of the most stylish flicks of 2010, The Tourist. Stylish for it’s cast and ‘to die for’ locations, The Tourist Stars Hollywood A-listers Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie.
This film actually went through quite abit of changes in the production team and cast before filming started. Originally, the film was set with Lasse Hallström to direct, but he left over scheduling conflicts. Bharat Nalluri then came on but later left. When Jolie accepted her role, so did Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, but he left over “creative differences” along with Sam Worthington. After many names were mooted, including Alfonso Cuarón, Donnersmarck returned.
Tom Cruise was originally going to play the lead role, but was replaced by Sam Worthington. Johnny Depp then replaced Worthington. Charlize Theron was, at one point, set to play Jolie’s role.
The Plot
Johnny Depp stars as an American tourist whose playful dalliance with a stranger leads to a web of intrigue, romance and danger. During an impromptu trip to Europe to mend a broken heart, Frank (Depp) unexpectedly finds himself in a flirtatious encounter with Elise (Angelina Jolie), an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Paris and Venice, their whirlwind romance quickly evolves as they find themselves unwittingly thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse.
The Verdict
To be brutally honest, I had high expectations considering it was Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie starring in this film but 20 minutes into it and I started to feel that it was kinda slow and the chemistry between Depp and Jolie was abit odd really. Guess it just felt like a weird pairing.
BUT here are the GOOD PARTS! I mentioned it was slow however I must say the film is a clever one. The first 20 minutes was spent building the premise, the plot and characters slowly but it was littered with moments of humour from Depp who pretty much carried the film. Him and his electronic cigarette.
The action begins after some gangsters try to kill Depp’s character in his hotel room, there he escapes and starts realize his part in all of this (I swear I was laughing cos Depp ran like Captain Jack Sparrow)
Now it’s not really non-stop idiotic action, there’s undoubtedly good acting from the leads and supporting cast of Paul Bettany and Timothy Dalton as well as twists to the story. Watching Jolie speak with a British accent made me feel a little dreamy cos it reminded me of when she played Lara Croft. The scenery was just breathtakingly beautiful and very fitting too for it’s 2 very good looking lead actors.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Clever plot and a brilliant twist at the end.
The Tourist has also received 3 Golden Globe Nominations.
BEST PICTURE COMEDY/MUSICAL
THE TOURIST
BEST ACTOR COMEDY/MUSICAL
Johnny Depp, THE TOURIST
BEST ACTRESS COMEDY/MUSICAL
Angelina Jolie, THE TOURIST
The Tourist opens in cinemas 30 Dec 2010.
Danker out!
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