Review: In 'The Tourist' Jolie is awfully pretty
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Thu, 01/13/2011 - 1:24pm
"The Tourist," currently screening at the Fandango Galaxy multiplex in Carson City, is rich in scenery (Paris and Venice, how could you go wrong?), in female beauty (Angelina Jolie, again how could you go wrong?) and the usual befuddled but caring male (Johnny Depp).
It is not rich in a plot that makes a lot of sense, but it's a thriller so does that matter? I guess not if you're content to sit and let events wash over you and Jolie is good at that.
That's what she does with Depp, picking him on a train and taking home from Paris to Venice's plush Daniella Hotel (spelling may be bit haphazard there, but I never stayed there while working in Venice while on a newsman's allowance). She kisses him but he never has his way with her.
Instead, they go to a fancy ball, dance intimately but flee when bad guys show up. Seems someone stole a pile of money (or maybe didn't pay his British income tax — this gets a little muddled but don't sweat it). Just look at Jolie, whose wildly red lips and big eyes seem to enfold the scenery. That's what you are supposed to do.
OK, Jolie goes for a rendezvous by the bad guys headed by Steven Berkoff as Reginald Shaw, who owes the Brits who have been involved all along. For his sins he is mowed down (alomg with some Russian-type thugs (don't mess with Queen Liz, boys) as Depp reveals that he is Jolie's longtime lover, after plastic surgery (that must have been powerful knife work to make so different his lover didn't recognize him.)
Listen, don't take this as a serious movie. It's basically just some camera work to show off Jolie's lips and modest portions of her bod and for Depp to play the fumbling male and run over Venice roofs. Just sit back and enjoy the scenery — it's nice stuff. Did I mention to forget Logic 103? OK, go and enjoy. It's supposed to be fun.
— Sam Bauman
Cast
Johnny Depp as Frank Tupelo
Angelina Jolie as Elise Clifton-Ward
Paul Bettany as Inspector John Acheson
Timothy Dalton as Chief Inspector Jones
Steven Berkoff as Reginald Shaw
Rufus Sewell as The Englishman
Christian De Sica as Colonnello Lombardi
Alessio Boni as Sergente Cerato
Daniele Pecci as Tenente Narduzzi
Giovanni Guidelli as Tenente Tommassini
Raoul Bova as Conte Filippo Gaggia
Bruno Wolkowitch as Capitaine Courson
Marc Ruchmann as Brigadier Kaiser
Julien Baumgartner as Brigadier Ricuort
François Vincentelli as Brigadier Marion
Shashidhar as Shz
Nino Frassica as Maresciallo Cecchini
Neri Marcorè as the receiver of the hall
