By Rama Gaind
Film: The Tourist
Stars: Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Paul Bettany, Rufus Sewell, Timothy Dalton
Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Johnny Depp is Frank Tupelo, a maths teacher from Wisconsin on vacation in Europe, who inadvertently becomes embroiled in a thriller about identity. He is the American tourist whose life is seemingly turned upside down.
Angelina Jolie portrays Elise Ward, a British woman, being hunted by Scotland Yard and a non-Russian mob boss.
Elise is being pursued because it’s thought that she knows the whereabouts of her former lover, Alexander Pearce, who has not only stolen money from the mob boss but is sought by Scotland Yard for non-payment of back taxes.
Frank and Elise get together at the start of the film after she gets a letter in a café in France from Pearce, telling her to get on the next train to Venice. In keeping with what she’s told, Elise finds a man of similar height and build to Pearce so Scotland Yard will mistake him for Pearce.
Thereafter starts the chase. The plot is interesting, holds some interest, but the film lacks depth. While Jolie looks beautiful, Depp has some forgettable lines. What’s more, there is no character development and not much chemistry between the two lead actors.
Nevertheless, the film’s location in Venice is glorious: stunning architecture,
amazing canals and breathtaking beauty of Hotel Danieli.
All that, and a twist in the tale that’s sure to raise a smile!
