Clive Owen stars in the action-packed thriller, "The International." Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures.

THE INTERNATIONAL (Rated R)

Very topical in its focus on shenanigans in the international banking community, “The International” is an intense, gripping thriller that captures the audience’s attention mainly for its exciting action, while secondarily touching upon the general angst over the current sad state of global economic affairs.

Even though the bad guys are a bunch of slick, evil bankers worth rooting against, the film is less concerned with making any societal or political points than delivering a reckless, impetuous high-stakes chase across the globe in pursuit of relentless thrills. Despite its bland, nondescript title, “The International” is anything but dull.

As the film opens, Interpol agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen), formerly of Scotland Yard, is observing a colleague’s rendezvous with a bank insider in Berlin, just before things go horribly wrong. The fellow agent is victimized by foul play, while the insider is later discovered to have died in a mysterious auto accident.

The scruffy Salinger, looking like he needs a stiff drink and three days' rest, is hot on the trail of duplicitous happenings within an international banking concern going by the initials IBBC. It’s not a coincidence that the IBBC can be mistaken for BCCI, which one may recall was the largest corporate scandal of the early 1990s.

The real-life BCCI scandal involved an operation that engaged in pervasive money laundering, with a brisk sideline business in arms trafficking, mercenary armies, intelligence activities and support for terrorist organizations. BCCI was a full service bank that included murder and mayhem in addition to simple bank deposits.

Whereas BCCI was founded in Pakistan, the fictional IBBC operates from sleek headquarters in Luxembourg. Other than the geographical differences, IBBC is indistinguishable from BCCI, since the Euro swells running the banking empire are a bunch of scumbags.

Salinger is hell-bent on taking down these bad guys, particularly Jonas Skarssen (Ulrich Thomsen), the head of the IBBC conglomerate, and Wilhelm Wexler (Armin Mueller-Stahl), the old school confidant who was a former Stasi agent in East Germany.

Though typically a loner, Salinger is joined on his quest by Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts), a Manhattan assistant district attorney who is equally driven to bring down the criminal enterprise.

Their first mission together involves a trip to Milan, where an assassination plot is carried out against a prominent figure, which goes to show how deep the tentacles of the IBBC are able to reach. This is a bank that has its own hired gun, in this case a shadowy presence known only as the Consultant (Brian F. O’Byrne), a physically unremarkable loner who remains inconspicuous but extremely deadly.

The fast pace of the action takes Salinger and Whitman on a whirlwind tour of the world, with probably the most intense action set-piece in recent memory taking place in New York City’s iconic Guggenheim Museum.

Bullets collide with the art world when Salinger follows the mysterious assassin Consultant to the famous art museum, and teams of gunslingers show up to take out both the Interpol agent and the assassin, thereby neatly disposing of the IBBC’s potential headaches.

The ambush turns the museum into a shooting gallery, artfully staged because the Guggenheim is a circular building with one long continuous ramp, lending itself to the crossfire of the most explosive gun battle likely ever filmed within a confined space.

Directed by Tom Tykwer (“Run, Lola, Run”), “The International” seems inspired by vintage Cold War spy stories, a mix of James Bond adventurism and the modern sensibility of Jason Bourne’s penchant for intense chases.

The latter inspiration is on full view with a trip to Istanbul, where Salinger shadows IBBC honcho Skarssen’s shady dealings with arms dealers and assorted pond scum. Similar to the most recent “Bourne” film, there’s a nice chase scene on the roof tops in the Turkish capital, where Salinger has an ultimate showdown with his nemesis, though there’s a nifty surprise twist.

One of the fun things about “The International” is its keen ability to tap into our deepest suspicions about the whole panoply of villains. Indeed, the European bankers, appropriately oily and nattily attired, are deliciously sinister, morally bankrupt and just plain evil. The bank’s clients are a cornucopia of easily identified trash, including African warlords, Chinese arms merchants, Middle East terrorists, and venal, corrupt power brokers. We can’t help but have a rooting interest in the soulful Salinger’s quest to take them all down.

Intrigue, violence and revenge combine for one fantastic thriller. “The International” rates very highly, along with “Taken,” for the recent crop of exciting action pictures.

DVD RELEASE UPDATE

Loosely based on British writer Toby Young’s autobiographical account of writing for a prominent American magazine, “How to Lose Friends and Alienate People” tells the story of the outrageous rollercoaster of a career path Young carved out for himself.

Simon Pegg, the zany British actor in “Shaun of the Dead,” plays the main character of Sidney Young, a disillusioned intellectual who both adores and despises the world of celebrity, fame and glamor. Hired by an upscale magazine after catching the attention of Jeff Bridges (playing the editor), Young leaves his job at a British magazine.

The editor warns Young that he must impress the pants off those around him in order to be successful, but instead the British iconoclast constantly annoys everyone until a rising starlet (Megan Fox) develops affection for him and might be the only thing that could save his disastrous career.

“How to Lose Friends” is at its best when sticking to comedy, but is not so great when pushing romance. The DVD extras are just routine interviews and commentary.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

Clive Owen and Naomi Watts team up to fight the bad guys of the IBBC in "The International." Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures.

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Pianist Knut Erik Jensen put on a performance of Norwegian composers at Galilee Lutheran Church on Saturday, February 7, 2009. Courtesy photo.

KELSEYVILLE – Lake County residents of Norwegian descent helped to create a near-capacity crowd on Saturday, Feb. 7, at Kelseyville's Galilee Lutheran Church to hear youthful pianist Knut Erik Jensen play the music of his country.

Jensen's masterful playing of Clear Lake Performing Arts' Yamaha grand piano evoked the magic and majesty of Scandinavia, as well as the skills of some of Norway's leading composers.

Sporting the long blonde hair of his Viking ancestors, Jensen managed to blend an oral history of his homeland with the music of its masters, starting with its premier composer Edvard Grieg who, Jensen explained, not only won worldwide acclaim for his musical abilities, but also managed to help establish a national identity for Norway, which had long been a province of Denmark.

Part of that identity was Grieg's rediscovery of ancient Norwegian peasant dances – entitled his “Opus 72” – which Jensen used as his opener.

This was Jensen's second appearance in Lake County. Two years ago his concert was underwritten by the Sons of Norway, and consisted of an all-Grieg repertoire.

This year's appearance was sponsored jointly by Clear Lake Performing Arts and the Sons of Norway, and the program was expanded to include lesser-known but more contemporary composers. One of these – whose “Nordic Suite, Opus 18” and “Fairyland, Opus 16” – were second on the program and written by Alf Hurum who wound up as founder and leader of the Honolulu Symphony.

Another popular Norwegian composer, Christian Sinding, was greatly influenced by the French impressionists, which was demonstrated by Jensen's playing of his “Rustles of Spring” creating visions of trickling water rolling onward toward a thundering cataract which ended with matching applause from the audience.

David Monrad Johansen, who died in 1974, tried to use his music to recreate the Viking Glory Days of Norway and Jensen chose his “Two Portraits from the Middle Age, Opus 8,” to illustrate the point.

The first half of the concert ended with Harald Saeverud's “Rondo Amoroso, Opus 14, No. 7” and the thunderous, militaristic “Ballad of Revolt,” the composer's rage against his nation's occupation in World War II by Nazi Germany.

Following intermission Jensen played a total of 16 of the numbers from Geirr Tveitt's “50 Folk Tunes from Hardanger.” Tveitt had made it his life's mission to find, restore and record the folk music of the Hardanger Fjord district in which he lived, and succeeded in compiling more than a thousand.

Unfortunately he stored them in his barn, which caught fire and burned all of the musical manuscripts. Subjects included romance, weddings, the forces of nature and – on three different pieces – a salute to one of Norway's most prized accomplishments – the brewing of good beer. Jensen sailed through more than a half hour of these tunes all without benefit of written music.

Standing applause brought Jensen back to the piano for an encore, a lilting and melodious interpretation of Greig's “Wedding Day at Troldhavgen.”

Following the concert attendees joined Jensen in a reception at the adjoining Galilee annex where they were greeted by Carl and Mary Beth Ingvoldstad in full Norwegian regalia. They came originally from the Gudbransdalen area of Norway and are active in the Sons of Norway.

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Artist Gail Salituri. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT – Artist Gail Salituri will be the juror for the next themed art show, “Floral Still Life,” at the Lake County Arts Council's Main Street Gallery.

Richard Seisser, chairman of the Main Street Gallery Committee, said they were privileged and grateful to have Salituri as the juror for the show. “ To those whose work is juried into the show, you should feel complimented that your work has been selected to hang by one of California's accomplished artists and sought-after fine art jurors.”

Salituri, who paints exclusively in oil, has established herself with her eye for both the obvious and the hidden beauty of her chosen subject, including California Missions, courtyards and gardens, vineyards and wineries, and lush florals.

Her enchanting scenes are vibrant with color, yet serene in their peacefulness and presentation, a combination that has won her increasing acclaim and recognition.

As an accredited fine arts judge, Salituri served the State of California Fair System, from 1980 to 1993, judging fine art, photography, crafts, woodworking, ceramics and pottery.

She is a member of the Oil Painters of America and works with many and varied arts organizations, including the American Art Venue of Napa, as well as local arts and charitable groups in Lake County.

Her work has been published in Art of the West Magazine, Southwest Art Magazine, Stepping Out Magazine and the Lake County Visitor Center Magazine. You can see a great sampling of her work in her Inspirations Gallery on Main Street in Lakeport.

Lake County art lovers and artists submitting their work for jury will have an opportunity to meet and visit with Salituri at the First Friday Fling on March 6, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the gallery.

Other delights of the evening will be keyboard music by Mel Taylor and the usual wine and munchies.

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The Live Oak Senior Center will host “Love Writes a Deadly Verse,” a Valentine's Day murder mystery dinner, this Saturday.

Treat someone special to a fun night.

The social hours takes place from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. The meal will feature pork tenderloin with sauce amore.

The cost is $20 per person. John Zimmerman will provide special music for the occasion.

The Live Oak Senior Center is located on The Plaza in Clearlake Oaks.

For reservations call 998-9563.

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On Jan. 24 local performers vied for the opportunity to perform at this year's Music Fest. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT – The Soper-Reese Community Theatre was the site of one of the secret ceremonies of the performer's life on Saturday, Jan. 24.

All day long talented and accomplished musicians came out onto the bare stage, looked into the banks of giant colored lights and performed their pieces.

Under the eyes of the judges with their pens and clipboards and their desk lights, guitarists and sax players and singers and jugglers and piano players gave it their all, and that was quite a lot.

With a sparse audience of other performers, mostly, and with backstage workers carrying microphones around, and the empty seats, it is a fairly intimidating experience.

We're talking about the auditions for the Winter Music Fest, put on for the last 17 years by the Lake County Arts Council. They seem to be learning how to do it right, and the professional atmosphere of the Soper-Reese lends gravitas to the event.

This year there were many more applicants than there is time for in an evenings' entertainment. To keep the pace up and end the evening at a decent hour, it was necessary to limit each act to one number, and still many had to be eliminated.

Those who remain, and will participate in the Music Fest, are a varied and skillful lot, but so were the ones excluded. The judges have had sixteen years to learn to be ruthless, and have learned it well enough to put together a good entertainment.

Shows will be presented on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 1, at 2 p.m.

The tickets are already for sale at the Main Street Gallery in Lakeport, Catfish Books in Willow Tree Plaza and Wild About Books in Clearlake.

To get reserved tickets, the Soper-Reese Theatre box office will be open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays or by phone at 263-0577.

There is a certain poignancy to this Music Fest. After Winter Music Fest 17, the Soper-Reese will resume construction work, and will be closed until it is finished. There is still a pretty fair amount of work that needs to be done.

An entire new building will go in the parking lot to hold the dressing rooms and the performers' restrooms. The restrooms for the audience will be completely replaced, enlarged and made wheelchair accessible. A new fire exit will be cut in the south wall, with stairs and ramps to ground level. And the stage will be extended sideways to the walls, with a proscenium and a curtain that will open and close. More lights need to be raised, and the same could be said for the funds still needed to do some of this.

Music Fest 16 was the first event to be held in the theater since construction began, and this coming one will be the last before the second stage of construction starts. It has been a pretty good year for performing arts in Lake County at the Soper-Reese. Between the Winter Music Fest bookends, there have been many productions.

There has been theater, “Solid Gold Cadillac” and “Cinderella,” and broadcast drama with “A Christmas Carol” presented free at the theater and carried live on KPFZ-FM 88.1. There have been concerts of jazz, Scottish, classical and singer-songwriter music. The Mendocino College drama class used the hall for rehearsals, classes and performances.

It has been pretty busy, and everyone is sad to see it close now, but it will not be too long before it is buzzing again. Perhaps the next event will be Winter Music Fest 18.

In the meantime, get ready to see a professionally-produced stage show with the professionally-auditioned performing artists of Lake County, and enjoy the biggest entertainment bargain of the year.

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Steve Martin (center) and John Cleese (right) star in MGM Pictures and Columbia Pictures comedy The Pink Panther 2. Courtesy photo.

THE PINK PANTHER 2 (Rated PG)

Granted, “The Pink Panther” films haven’t been the same since the passing of Peter Sellers. All things considered, the franchise was nevertheless sliding precipitously downhill even during the British comedian’s later years.

Now, Steve Martin is putting his own stamp on the bumbling French detective Jacques Clouseau, and “The Pink Panther 2” won’t be confused with any of the earlier Sellers films, if for no other reason that previous sequels were given original titles, for example “Revenge of the Pink Panther.” Following the death of Peter Sellers, one film went so far as to introduce an Italian actor as the son of Inspector Clouseau, which marked the rock bottom of the old era.

There is no point in seeing “The Pink Panther 2” unless you are braced for a rollicking good time of silly slapstick humor, pratfalls and ridiculous embarrassments, mostly at the expense of Steve Martin’s inept, blundering Inspector Clouseau.

Most critics, of this I am quite sure, are likely to dismiss this comedy as inane, uninspired or even lame. As is often the case, these same critics are probably out of touch with the audience that wants to see Steve Martin as the goofy French detective who struggles mightily to pronounce the word “hamburger.” And the audience just won’t be 10-year-old kids. OK, I admit enjoying this film more than reason and good taste would dictate, but what’s wrong with that?

When the story begins, Clouseau is back on parking meter duty, mainly because Chief Inspector Dreyfus (John Cleese, new to the role) wants him out of the office and out of his hair. The animosity between the chief and Clouseau might be sparked by the detective’s insistence on ostentatiously wearing his Medal of Honor.

Around the world, a thief known as the Tornado steals valuable artifacts such as the Shroud of Turin and the original Magna Carta. When the Pink Panther diamond is also stolen, Dreyfus is forced to assign Clouseau to an international Dream Team of detectives charged with catching the thief and retrieving the priceless relics.

Naturally, Clouseau is out of his element, but he’s backed up by his wise partner Ponton (Jean Reno) and his loyal associate Nicole (Emily Mortimer), the object of Clouseau’s awkward affections. The Dream Team of crack detectives is rather flummoxed by Clouseau’s involvement. They share with Dreyfus a dismissive contempt for Clouseau’s vaunted abilities.

The team includes the snooty Brit Pepperidge (Alfred Molina); the flashy, slick Italian Vicenzo (Andy Garcia); gorgeous jewel expert Sonia (Bollywood beauty Aishwarya Rai Bachchan); and Japanese tech whiz Kenji (Yuki Matsuzaki). As a group, they are irritated by Clouseau’s bloated ego and ineptitude, but Vicenzo seems more interested in wooing Nicole.

Before you can start humming the iconic Henry Mancini theme music, the Dream Team sets off on a globetrotting adventure in search of the master thief. Naturally, this leads to many awkward moments when Clouseau bumbles his way into mischief. A fire that destroys a restaurant in Rome is just one mishap caused by the French detective’s clumsiness.

An investigation into the Tornado’s theft of the Pope’s ring from inside the Vatican leads to some real silliness when Clouseau dresses like the Holy Father and stuns a crowd of visitors with a major pratfall. When the team questions a slick suspect (Jeremy Irons) at his Italian villa, Clouseau is hilariously caught on the surveillance cameras while he causes inadvertent mayhem during his snooping.

Steve Martin does for Jacques Clouseau what Daniel Craig has managed adeptly to do for James Bond. This is not to say that Martin supplants Peter Sellers any more than Craig makes everyone forget Sean Connery. But in their unique ways, both actors bring new life to venerable franchises.

“The Pink Panther 2,” which sustains laughs and has some good dialogue mixed in with all the slapstick routines, is plenty of fun, as long as you understand that the whole premise is deliberately silly nonsense.

DVD RELEASE UPDATE

Bernie Mac, a comic legend, made his last feature film appearance in “Soul Men,” now available on DVD. Bernie and Samuel L. Jackson starred as two long-lost soul legends who are brought together again after a long estrangement.

Twenty years have passed before they agree to one last performance to honor their former band leader. The cross-country road trip to the Apollo Theater in Harlem proves to be a test of the willingness of two volatile characters to patch up their differences.

Of course, with “Soul Men” being a comedy, the journey across America turns out to be the road trip from hell. Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson are very adept at bickering and hurling invective, all the while getting into serious jams, including even a brief stint in jail.

The “Soul Men” DVD includes tributes to Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes.

Tim Riley writes film and video reviews for Lake County News.

(l to r) Alfred Molina, Andy Garcia, Yuki Matsuzaki and Steve Martin star in MGM Pictures and Columbia Pictures comedy The Pink Panther 2. Courtesy photo.

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