Clive Bond

Banks suck. If there’s anything we’ve learned during this economic crisis, it’s that. But the sobering picture painted by “The International” is one that will make you take all your assets and bury them in a hole.

The film follows Interpol agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) and Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) in their crusade to take down the elusive and uber-powerful International Bank of Business and Credit.

As the two criss-cross the globe gathering evidence, they’re detoured at every turn through shady circumstances.

If nothing else, “The International” is surely relevant to our current state of affairs. It seems that a bank couldn’t control the world as easily as depicted here, but recent events make the film feel like a prognostication.

At times, the film feels like a James Bond riff, as Owen’s character traipses around the world investigating evil foreigners. The on-location shoots are beautiful, but it feels a tad showy.

The characters are also paper-thin, as we’re given three minutes of backstory on Owen’s character and next to nothing on Watts’. Her character is absolutely pointless, and the script proves it by having her stay out for the last 20 minutes.

This is Owen’s show and he brings it as usual, but it’s hard to bring layers to a character written without any.

Though it features a compelling macro story and an absolutely tremendous shootout two-thirds of the way through, “The International” struggles with character development and ultimately stalls in the climax.