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Saturday, April 27, 2024
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HOLLYWOOD THE TOURIST
EDITOR'S PICK
Rating: *1/2
The O`Henry twist, as it began to be called after
the author who chiselled the most unexpected ending to a story into a fine art,
has been done to death in literature and cinema. So much so that right at the
beginning of a thriller, the most unexpected ending now comes first in the minds
of a viewer.
For this expectation to be proven right against all hopes is the sign of sloppy
writing and direction. The Tourist is an example of that which
neither the charisma of Angelina Jolie or the chutzpah of Johnny Depp can save.
Alexander is a mysterious man hunted both by the Scotland Yard and a gangster as
he has stolen from both. He has gone ahead and got himself a face change. After
asking his lover Elisa (Jolie) to choose the man most resembling him from a
train to Venice to distract both, she chooses an unsuspecting tourist, a math
teacher Frank (Johnny Depp) whose simple life is turned upside down as he
becomes a wanted man.
Frank does not know what he has landed himself into. Even when he does, he does
not mind as he has fallen in love with the gorgeous Elisa. With both the
gangsters and Scotland Yard closing in on Elisa to find her husband, Frank is
headed for something he can`t control.
It is hard to imagine that the man who gave one of the most poignant films of
world cinema in The Lives of Others, Florian Henckel von
Donnersmarck could fall so flat on his face with his next.
The only thing the expectedly, unexpected thriller does manage is to be a trip
through beautiful Venice. Few Nights in Venice would perhaps have
been a better title for this absolutely passable film that neither delights, not
has the steam or pace to keep you either glued to your seats, or leave you with
deep sighs of compassion as in Lives of Others.
Johnny Depp feels on-screen kisses are always awkward but it wasn't difficult filming kissing co-star Angelina Jolie in "The Tourist". Read More
The Tourist is written by Academy Award® winning screenwriters Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park, The Young Victoria), Christopher McQuarrie (Valkyrie), and Jeffrey Nachmanoff (The Day After Tomorrow) and revolves around Frank (Johnny Depp), an American tourist visiting Italy to mend a broken heart. Elise (Angelina Jolie) is an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Venice, Frank pursues a potential romance but soon finds himself the pursued as he and Elise are caught in a whirlwind of intrigue and danger.
