The Tourist

Review by Gareth Von Kallenbach

In The Tourist Frank Tupelo, played by Johnny Depp, is a math teacher from Wisconsin who decides to take a vacation in Italy in hopes of mending his broken heart. 

While traveling on a train bound for Venice, he befriends an interesting and mysterious woman who sits next to him. 

Elise Clifton-Ward, played by Angelina Jolie, has been on the run from the mob and the British police for the past couple of years because her lover, Alexander Pearce, embezzled over $2 billion from a mobster. 

The British police want their cut for taxes owed, but without really knowing what Alexander looks like, the police are essentially just waiting for Elise to make contact with him.

Elise picks Frank to play a part in her plans of steering the mob and the British police in a different direction. 

After arriving in Venice, they both go their separate ways, but still end up finding each other later while Frank is sightseeing. Elise invites him on her boat and then takes him back to her hotel. 

They share a few passionate moments as Elise attempts to make the police who are spying on them believe that Frank is really Alexander. When Frank awakens the next day, he realises that Elise is gone. This is where the action begins...

Not only are the police after Frank, so are the mobsters from whom Alexander stole, making for a messy situationi for Frank. With a lot of great twists and turns in this movie as well as smart dialogue, The Tourist succeeds in putting a smile on your face while keeping you on the edge of your seat.

Angelina Jolie’s Elise Ward knows the power of her beauty and uses it to her great advantage. 

The strong supporting cast includes the likes of Paul Bettany, Timothy Dalton and Steven Berkoff. Unlike most of Johnny Depp’s other movies where he exudes confidence, he is like a lost puppy being chased for something he is unaware of doing. 

I do have to say that I am always able to see some of Depp's most famous character, Captain Jack Sparrow, shine through in his current roles. If you watch closely during a chase scene, he starts to run away from the mob exactly as Captain Jack would. 

Or maybe that is just how Johnny Depp runs.

Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, who makes great use of spectacular views and locales, The Tourist is a great action adventure flick with a storyline that keeps you interested from start to end. 

Sharp and witty dialogue - plus two of the hottest stars in the world playing the leads - makes The Tourist a movie worth watching.

4 out of 5

The Tourist
Australian release: 26th December, 2010
Official Site: The Tourist
Cast: Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, Paul Bettany, Rufus Sewell, Timothy Dalton, Steven Berkoff 
Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck