“The International” quite possibly may win the Oscar for best timing. It’s an action-thriller whose villains are currently among the most hated people in America: bankers.

The plot revolves around the fictional International Bank of Business and Credit, which is involved with weapons brokering in third-world conflicts. By leveraging the flow of weapons, they hope to capitalize on the debt of poverty-stricken nations.

Interpol agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) and Manhattan assistant district attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) are investigating the bank’s hidden misdeeds.

In the process, the two happen to come across some of the world’s most exotic locations.

“The International” is one of the most appropriately named movies in recent memory. Filming locations include Berlin, Milan, Istanbul, and New York.
A bullet-ridden descent down the spiral ramps of the Guggenheim Museum in New York is as creative as it is impressive. Gun battles are pretty much standard with every action movie, but the art and architecture of the Guggenheim makes this one distinguishable.

This film is a showcase of different architectures and cultures, with its global range far exceeding even some Bond films.

It’s hard not to compare this film to the Bond franchise. Exotic locations, wealthy villains and a high body count are all part of the 007’s usual itinerary.

However, there are two major differences: a love interest (Whitman is married and has children) and a shallow hero.

Bond’s motivations don’t typically go beyond Queen and country, and even Daniel Craig’s rendition is more execution than emotion.

Salinger’s entire being is devoted to stopping the IBBC — so much so that it cost him his old job and, presumably, time for personal hygiene.

His unshaven, unkempt look is a perfect foil to the bankers’ expensive suits. His cubicle is a dump; the bankers sit in a steel-and-glass palace.

As much as he desperately needs to, Salinger can’t seem to stop this bank. Their ability to escape justice at every turn frustrates him to the point where he doesn’t care what happens to him personally, just as long as the bankers pay for their crimes.

This is where “The International” earns its admission price.

Unintentional or not, the film resonates more than it would have a year ago.

The IBBC doesn’t care about lives or social welfare; the only important thing is money. What would otherwise be just a fanciful plot became plausible in the last few months.

Also similar to the Bond series are the gaping plot holes. While 007 films dance around or ignore them altogether, “The International” occasionally tackles them head-on.

Why Whitman, a Manhattan district attorney, is co-leading an investigation of an international bank dealing in weapons sales is beyond me.

She argues to keep the U.S. Department of Justice out of the investigation and fends off German authorities, which is odd considering the bank is headquartered in Luxembourg.

“The International” will likely not be the best action-thriller of the year, but it may just end up being the most relevant.

Reach the reporter at cogino@asu.edu.