Ahh, banking institutions. To many people, they are the "enemy," with their high interest rates and ability to control someone's life through their credit. The International takes things one step further, with the IBBC, an international banking conglomerate being not only the bad guy, but responsible for facilitating arms dealing around the world. New York Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) is working with Interpol agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) to find out just how deep the IBBC's tentacles extend into the pockets of the Third World's arms dealers. When their inside man is killed, along with his IBBC contact, they set out to blow the case wide open. However, at every turn, they encounter roadblocks and it appears that the IBBC has a hold on those in authority over them. When they link IBBC figureheads and an Italian arms manufacturer, they finally catch a break, only to have anyone who helps them systematically eliminated.

The International will take the viewer from Germany to Italy to New York and finally to Istanbul, through such landmarks as the Guggenheim Museum and the Autostadt (Volkswagen's Factory). While not a film that must be seen in Blu-ray, certainly seeing a shootout in the Guggenheim looks worlds better in high-def. It's obvious that the film's creators were very keen on creating amazing visuals for The International, with the panoramic scenes from the various cities the film takes place in, along with the striking architecture and elements used. There are even featurettes that discuss how they recreated the Guggenheim and were able to convince VW to allow them to film at the Autostadt, something that has never been done before.

I found the premise that the New York DA's office would have carte blanche to investigate an international bank alongside Interpol a bit unbelievable and I also found that there were some plotlines that were unceremoniously dropped, which was odd. For instance, Salinger's ringing in his ears, which they take pains to show us has been an ongoing problem that plagues him, is eventually just dropped in the film.

Regardless, I enjoyed The International, but there were slow times as the story unfolded, packaged with a few really good action scenes. Owen and Watts work well together and have good chemistry as partners, but don't go in expecting any romance between the two. Overall, the ending is satisfying and The International is worth a rent, but it's not one you'll watch over and over.