Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
JOHNNY Depp and Angelina Jolie are probably the most desirable actors in the world in terms of their aesthetic beauty and, of course, their acting talent.
Their on-screen pairing is a movie buff's dream come true. Both shine in their roles. While Jolie effortlessly exudes cool sensuality, her counterpart manages to bring a coy charm to his role.
However, it has been well publicised that Depp's wife, Vanessa Paradis, was less than impressed when she found out her husband would be sharing top-billing with the movie goddess.
Paradis needn't have worried though because the heart of The Tourist is the palpable sexual tension between Jolie and Depp. It serves to help, rather than hinder the movie and makes their on-screen relationship more realistic.
The film begins with the beautiful Elise (Jolie), the mistress of a banker who happens to have embezzled $2 billion from a mobster, sitting in a cafŽ. The British secret service have been following her for years in the hope that she will inadvertently lead them to her lover so that they can claim a large portion of his wealth in taxes.
The only problem is that the police don't know what he looks like! A minor set back for the resourceful Brits who simply follow everyone Elise interacts with ... British tenacity in action!
After receiving a note from her lover asking her to go to Italy, Elise sits next to a random American tourist named Frank (Depp) on a train and hopes to fool the police into believing he's her embezzling lover ... you know, to throw them off the scent.
It sounds good in theory but when she unwittingly gets him targeted by the mobster who wants his money back, she soon realises he's a lovely guy and feels guilty for putting him in danger.
The pair embark on a journey of deceit, action, adventure and suspense, all the while stumbling towards their true feelings for one another.
The great thing about this movie, besides the dazzling stars, is how well it manages to combine gripping action sequences and goofy comedy.
Depp is not generally known to play overtly comedic roles, but in this movie, he blends the intrinsic sensibility of Edward Scissorhands with the cunning of Caption Jack Sparrow. I am constantly impressed with his range and willingness to step outside his comfort zone. Whatever film he's in, whatever role he plays, he manages to bring with it that quintessential charm he's renowned for.
Meanwhile, Jolie also manages to hold the screen with her smoldering looks and a surprisingly, believable English accent. Sadly however, she doesn't noticeably manage to bring much else to the film. Yes, she's gorgeous (although in drastic need of a few calories), yes, she's an old hat at action sequences, but she offers very little diversity from her recent roles.
The Tourist is a non-stop thrill ride from its esoteric start to its twist finish. It's a crime thriller with a touch of finesse and, overall, is not a bad way to spend 103 minutes.
Showing in Cineco, Seef II and Saar Cineplex
