The International

"Graced with well-chosen location eye candy, Tom Tykwer's biggest production to date is proficient but lacks the added tension and characterization to put it anywhere near the top tier of contempo action suspensers."

"Leaving behind the aromatic fantasy of Perfume, Tom Tykwer weighs in with a tense and exhilarating entry into the spy genre. This is an espionage thriller well worth investing in."

"So undistinguished that the moments you remember best are those that you wish another, more original director had tackled."

"Clive Owen makes a semi-believable hero, not performing too many feats that are physically unlikely. As the plucky DA, Naomi Watts wisely plays up her character's legal smarts and plays down the inevitable possibility that the two of them will fall in love."

"Eurocentric bank-biz thriller starts with high principle but can't sustain interest."

"Despite being structured in an intriguing way -- bits of confusing action are shown first and explained later -- The International never finds its footing."

"Punctuated with bursts of explosive energy, this is a contained, cerebral film."

"For all its serious intent, Tykwer’s ‘relevant’ thriller proves to be perilously naff."

"It wants to be a smart, literate and provocative thinkpiece, but lacks the coherency, fluency, drama and urgency to achieve that."