The Tourist (2010)
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A mysterious woman recruits an unsuspecting teacher to pose as a fugitive in a high-stakes game of deception across Europe.
The story
British woman Elise Clifton-Ward is being pursued by French police and a mobster seeking a man who stole billions. Elise receives instructions from the fugitive, Alexander Pearce, to board a train to Venice and select a man to pose as Pearce. She chooses Frank Tupelo, a mathematics teacher from Wisconsin. As they travel through Paris and Venice, Elise must navigate a dangerous web of police surveillance and mob violence while attempting to keep Frank safe from the various parties hunting them both.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Elise Clifton-Ward is being hunted by Inspector John Acheson of Scotland Yard and Reginald Shaw, a mobster, for the fugitive Alexander Pearce. Following Pearce's instructions, Elise boards a train to Venice and selects Frank Tupelo, a mathematics teacher, to impersonate Pearce. After a series of dangerous encounters in Venice involving boat chases and police interventions, Elise attempts to lead Frank to safety. She eventually meets Acheson, who reveals himself as an undercover agent. While Elise is held hostage by Shaw, Frank intervenes, claiming to be Pearce to save her. Chief Inspector Jones arrives and orders snipers to kill Shaw's men. In a final twist, Frank opens a safe to reveal he was actually Alexander Pearce all along. The police find a check for the back taxes, and Pearce and Elise sail away together.
- First release year
- 2010
- Runtime (minutes)
- 103
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
- Writers
- Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck · screenplay; Christopher McQuarrie · screenplay; Julian Fellowes · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Angelina Jolie · Elise Clifton-Ward; Johnny Depp · Frank Tupelo; Paul Bettany · John Acheson; Timothy Dalton · Chief Inspector Jones; Steven Berkoff · Reginald Shaw; Rufus Sewell; Christian De Sica
- Genres
- romantic thriller; action thriller
- Themes
- Deception; Identity; Romance
- Tone and mood
- Sensuous; Elegant; Understated humor
- Premise and plot tags
- Remake; Spy; Heist
- Source material / true-story basis
- Anthony Zimmer (2005 French film)
- Reception
- The film received negative critical reception, with a 21% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 37/100 on Metacritic. However, it received positive reviews in the German press and was noted for its visual beauty.
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe · Best Musical or Comedy · Nominated; Golden Globe · Best Actor – Musical or Comedy · Nominated; Golden Globe · Best Actress – Musical or Comedy · Nominated
- Production trivia
- The film was shot in 58 days.; The film was originally submitted as a drama but was moved to the comedy category for the Golden Globes.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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