The International (2009)★ 6.6/10

The cinematography is superb—nearly every frame and location is visually striking. The screenplay, though, falters. The pacing starts slow, tightens in the middle, but collapses in the final act, where unresolved subplots and poorly developed characters dull the impact.

What begins as a detective mystery soon morphs into a political thriller. The first act is somewhat slow, but the suspense gradually builds, and the action scenes later in the film are impressive. At its core, the film explores the brutal reality of how wars are manufactured in the developing world for profit.