Read Mixed User Reviews for The Tourist

6

ShiiraDec 15, 2010

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Recuperating "The Tourist", the unfairly panned thriller made by a tourist himself(a German making his first Hollywood splash), means recuperating the performance by Johnny Depp, the risk-taking actor who's receiving the worst critical notices of his career. The big gamble he takes here is to give an anti-performance, as if "Charade", the 1963 comedy-thriller starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, was directed by Jim Jarmusch, the director of "Dead Man", which featured Depp in the leading role. Dead is how the many naysayers of "The Tourist" would characterize Frank Tupelo, a Wisconsin schoolteacher on holiday in Italy; opaque too, as Depp's somewhat morose line-readings will frustrate moviegoers who expect the actor to be, well, fun, through the employment of banter and sheer animal magnetism with his leading lady. But instead, the vacationing American seems diminished by Elise(Angelina Jolie), and on the verge of disappearing altogether. Jolie, dressed from head to toe in glamorous duds, radiates sex from every bedecked pore of her personage, turning the heads of men and women alike wherever those legs take her. It's this potential for the setting off of fireworks that many will cite as the reason why "The Tourist", and ultimately, Depp, disappoints, in which the actor, who made his name initially by playing mutes and near-mutes("What's Eating Gilbert Grape", "Benny and Joon", and "Edward Scissorhands"), seemingly picked the inopportune time to revert back to his boy-man persona, by talking in a soft and constrained voice. To be perfectly frank, he's sort of a drag, not at all cut out for romance with a sublime beauty like Jolie. But is it a bad performance? If you said, "Yes," that means you're overlooking the third act, in which the revelation of Frank Tupelo's true identity changes the complex of Depp's subdued and fussy performance. Suddenly, the mannerisms that Depp uses to color his cheesehead tourist with, mannerisms which, at the time, seemed nothing more than an eccentric actor's whim(remember his Pepe LePew-meets Keith Richards voice in "The Pirates of the Caribbean" movies), turned out to be an invention of Alexander Pierce's making, not Depp's. This time, the voice isn't a novelty, but intrinsic to the character. In "The Tourist", the actor(who minced like Angela Lansbury in Tim Burton's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow) is one step removed from his latest vocal styling, since it's, in essence, his character playing a character, as Alexander tries to win Elise over by being Frank, but not honest, and in the process, seems uncomfortable in his own skin. Quite understandably, he has some mixed emotions over stealing the woman he loves from himself. And since Depp chooses to portray this conflict with utter seriousness, "The Tourist" can sometimes be too angst-ridden for its own good. The original Alexander, the man whom Elise fell in love with, no doubt, had he graced the screen, would have made for a more entertaining movie. As Frank, the wanted man is forced to act counterintuitively all throughout his pallid seduction of Elise, and as a result, many of the scenes where fire is needed(especially the hotel sequence leading up to the moment where the couple's sleeping arrangements are finalized), Depp brings the ice, because the schoolteacher, in Elise's own words(more or less), is not a man who does exactly as he pleases. This comment, made in reference to the fake cigarette which Frank "smokes", telegraphs the notion that we're looking at the ghost of a face, blowing ghost smoke from a ghost cancer stick. Elise senses Alexander. "The Tourist" treats plastic surgery like a metaphor for reincarnation. The fake cylinder(and fake intrigue: the paperback spy novel he totes around) suggests Alexander's essence, inspiring Elise to criticize the name that her lover bestowed on his permanent alter-ego as being "terrible", a word that hardly describes "The Tourist", and Depp's performance as a man in transition, haunted by the phantom of his own being, and the horrible realization that his girlfriend is no longer in love with him, the old him.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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6

scrieciuDec 13, 2010

I expected so much more from '' The Tourist ". In my opinion, Johnny Depp made this movie. He played his average guy character really well. The dialogue was very cleaver (one of the best this year), it has a few moments of entertainment andI expected so much more from '' The Tourist ". In my opinion, Johnny Depp made this movie. He played his average guy character really well. The dialogue was very cleaver (one of the best this year), it has a few moments of entertainment and the ending was very interesting and smart. The rest was a little bit boring. Sometimes I felt that this movie was going nowhere. It was so long before they actually got to the '' punch '' of the story.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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5

JonnyFendiJan 10, 2011

What did you do? When Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie finally met in one screen? You get in line for a ticket! Mysterious story, city of Venice and promising Director as well, everything looks just fine, what could go wrong? But what you areWhat did you do? When Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie finally met in one screen? You get in line for a ticket! Mysterious story, city of Venice and promising Director as well, everything looks just fine, what could go wrong? But what you are about to experience is no other than being a tourist and get misguided. The movie based on Luc Besson and Sophie Marceau movie titled ANTHONY ZIMMER in 2004. An American tourist Frank is approached by a mysterious girl Elise in a train (who can deny beautiful girl like Angelina Jolie anyway, do you?) on journey to Venice, Italy. In the beginning, Elise has hidden intention to use Frank as a decoy from the hunt of police and Russian mafia. Now everyone thinks Franks is her long-lost fugitive lover, an intelligent thief Alexander Pearce. Actually, the basic material is very promising, with some twists and turns in development. But in the process, they could not get a precise romantic atmosphere done right. The interaction between the two is stiff and awkward. Frankly says, there is no chemistry here. In spite of Johnny Depp is my No. 1 favorite Actor nowadays (I have all of his movies, all!) but unfortunately in thiz movie he looks too childish next to Jolie. You can see there is still a little bit Capt. Jack Sparrow in Depp character. He looks charming, but most of the time he becomes so uncomfortably clumsy and lazy. On the other side, for me Jolie more looks like -a supermodel walking in her runaway catwalk. Yes, with the smile like that, and her sharp eye gaze, beautifully elegant dresses, who can resist the whole eye candy package. But I have to say, it could be the most boring appearance of Angelina Jolie of all-time. What she does here just keep smiling all the time, without doing exploration for her character. Jolie is doing what I called Robotic Performance. Too much smile, too much pride, and too much eyelashes. A better performance comes from Paul Bettany as Inspector John. The other Supporting Casts are Timothy Dalton, Rufus Sewell and the memorable one, Reginald Shaw who is very convincing as Berkoff, Russian mobster boss. The Director of thiz movie is Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. I found myself more enjoying his latest creation, one of respectable German movies in 2006, THE LIVES OF OTHERS. It is supposed to be ravishing, but rather than that, it is happened to be ravenous. In the end, if you came to the theater to see some good looking faces. Wellâ… Expand

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

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5

grandpajoe6191Sep 24, 2011

The movie barely heaves itself up to the decent level. Either than that, "The Tourist" has nothing to present but a puzzling romance between Depp & Jolie and a unbelievably messy script that literally makes no sense.

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

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4

ReviewCriticMar 9, 2012

A lack of chemistry between the stars and the trashy action and dialogue make this movie suck, but I found some moments enjoyable.

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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4

RienyeJan 13, 2011

The so called "twist" of this movie was seen coming long before the final 20 minutes of this movie (mind you, i fell asleep 40 minutes into it, and woke up towards the end). The movie is basically two very attractive people spending as muchThe so called "twist" of this movie was seen coming long before the final 20 minutes of this movie (mind you, i fell asleep 40 minutes into it, and woke up towards the end). The movie is basically two very attractive people spending as much time as they can together not blinking. The dialogue was neither clever nor funny. Skip this one, wait for the next Pirates of the Caribbean if you want to see Depp do something good.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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4

kingshahidSep 27, 2011

The movie failed to keep my attention. It lagged half-way into the movie, and when it did pick up it still remained boring. The movie had no thrill or action, just drama. I was not moved by either Johnny Depp or Angelina Jolie as I wasThe movie failed to keep my attention. It lagged half-way into the movie, and when it did pick up it still remained boring. The movie had no thrill or action, just drama. I was not moved by either Johnny Depp or Angelina Jolie as I was expecting to be.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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5

consumerDec 31, 2010

I watched Salt just days before watching The Tourist. Salt was good but the Tourist can get out of my way. The fist-half of the movie is boring, imagine Angelina Jolie walking around beautiful streets with elegant fashion. Yes, the streetsI watched Salt just days before watching The Tourist. Salt was good but the Tourist can get out of my way. The fist-half of the movie is boring, imagine Angelina Jolie walking around beautiful streets with elegant fashion. Yes, the streets and clothes are good, but Angelina and the storyline aren't. When Johnny Depp reveals the twist of the movie, it's too late because I believe everyone's sleeping when he does that.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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5

NickXoNDec 24, 2010

Just a regular romantic movie, but nothing more. It's ok if you want to spend 1-2hours but if the director wanted a thriller, well i don't find it here. At least we enjoy the sweet presence of Jolie after all.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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4

MoviechickJan 3, 2011

Oh how we had high hopes! Jolie and Depp, in a caper set in the most romantic city in Europe. But these were wickedly shattered by a disappointing story and poor use made of the abilities of two talented actors. Failed romantic pairing, asOh how we had high hopes! Jolie and Depp, in a caper set in the most romantic city in Europe. But these were wickedly shattered by a disappointing story and poor use made of the abilities of two talented actors. Failed romantic pairing, as Jolie is styled visually as a middle aged Sophia Loren to a naive and playful Depp. Little wit and style, even from Depp and the only star in this show is Venice. The Tourist is replete with shallow dialogue, and unbelievable coincidences amidst beautiful cinematography and a fun rooftop and the obligatory Venetian canal chase. Jolie is usually an attractive woman but her skeletal size, (razor collarbones and noticeably thin arms) is cause for concern. Felt like we had been there and seen this, (done much better) before. Pocket your ticket fare and catch it on DVD or Netflix only if you don't mind a some what vapid "B" flick or enjoy pretty scenes of Venice.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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4

jimmytancrediMay 29, 2011

A chilly movie, not by the slowly scenes, silent but for being merely expository and not enfolding.
And even with such predictability, I couldnâ

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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4

TVJerryDec 15, 2010

Angelina Jolie is distant and smirks glamorously as a mysterious woman who travels to Venice to meet her lover. Since he also happens to mysterious, she picks an innocent tourist (Johnny Depp, slightly mannered and barely charming) to act asAngelina Jolie is distant and smirks glamorously as a mysterious woman who travels to Venice to meet her lover. Since he also happens to mysterious, she picks an innocent tourist (Johnny Depp, slightly mannered and barely charming) to act as his stand in. There are a few escape scenes, none of them particularly thrilling, but the core of the film revolves around their developing romance. Without much chemistry, it never sizzles. Jolie gets to look stunning in fabulous clothes and jewelry, while Venice provides a beautiful backdrop. Even though the film is low on energy, it's attractive and mildly entertaining.… Expand