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"THE TOURIST" (2010) (Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Moderate Minor Extreme Moderate Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Heavy None Heavy None Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Moderate Moderate Mild Moderate Extreme QUICK TAKE: Dramatic Thriller: An American tourist is mistaken for a wanted man in Venice when an alluring woman picks him as a stand-in for that other person. PLOT: Scotland Yard's Financial Crime Division is after Alexander Pearce for possessing illegally gained assets, and a lot of them, but the only problem is that no one knows what he looks like anymore. As a result, Inspector John Acheson (PAUL BETTANY) has his men trailing the alluring but enigmatic Elise Ward (ANGELINA JOLIE) throughout Paris. She's a known associate and possible lover of his, and Acheson -- despite the doubts of his superior, Jones (TIMOTHY DALTON) -- is positive the beauty will lead them to their man. She receives a note from Pearce that informs her to take a train from Paris to Venice and to pick out a man who resembles him in appearance and build, all to throw off the authorities. She does just that in Frank Tupelo (JOHNNY DEPP), an unassuming Wisconsin math teacher who's vacationing in Europe and isn't quite sure what to make of Elise when she sits down with him on the train. Not long after that, she's invited him to stay at her hotel, but the next morning, after a platonic night sleeping in separate rooms, Frank finds himself on the run from armed men. It seems that Elise's ploy has worked as crime boss Reginald Shaw (STEVEN BERKOFF) also wants Pearce for stealing a great deal of money from him in the past, and he and his goons think Frank is him. From that point on, Frank goes on the run from them and others, all as he tries to figure out what's going on and as he and Elise keep meeting and seem to be falling for each other. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of Depp, Jolie and/or anyone else in the cast, or romantic thrillers, they might be interested. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For violence and brief strong language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: Note: Characterizations listed below do not include the climactic twist. ANGELINA JOLIE plays an enigmatic and alluring woman who Scotland Yard is following in hopes of finding her associate and possible lover who's wanted for financial wrongdoing. She ends up picking Frank as a decoy to throw off others, and ends up leading him on a perilous journey of subterfuge, although she eventually comes to worry about his safety. She drinks some. JOHNNY DEPP plays a math teacher from Wisconsin who's headed to Venice for vacation when Elise picks him out as her associate's doppelganger. He isn't sure of what to make of her or the situation in which he finds himself (including fleeing from armed men), briefly uses strong profanity, drinks, and smokes electronic cigarettes (and one real one). PAUL BETTANY plays a Scotland Yard official in their Financial Crime Division who's so determined to catch Pearce that he doesn't mind both Elise and Frank's lives being in danger from Ivan and his goons. STEVEN BERKOFF plays a British crime lord who wants Pearce for the considerable money he stole from him in the past. He kills one of his subordinates who fails at his job of catching Pearce/Frank, and threatens to disfigure Elise if she doesn't cooperate. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a brief summary of the content found in this dramatic thriller that's rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 2 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. There's some non-explicit, sexually related talk, as well as kissing and brief/partial views of a woman in her lingerie/bra, while some men zoom a camera in for a close-up of a woman's clothed rear. Violence consists of people being killed (by gunfire and a strangulation), others being struck, and a villain threatens to disfigure a woman's face. There's only a tiny bit of bloody results from any of that. Some of that could be unsettling and/or suspenseful to some viewers, while the action, stunts and other behavior might be enticing for some kids to imitate. Various bad attitudes are present, as is some tense family material. Drinking occurs in various scenes, as does smoking (both real and using an electronic cigarette that still has nicotine in it). If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's some camera movement from time to time, but nothing terribly bouncy or jarring. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Frank and Elise have wine with dinner onboard a train, as do others. Frank has a drink. Elise and Frank have drinks in a restaurant where her meal has champagne in it. The waiter then asks if they want more drinks, and Elise asks Frank if she does, but the scene then cuts back to their hotel room where Frank is making drinks for both of them. Miscellaneous people have champagne while gambling. Many people have champagne at a ball where a stranger brings over flutes of that for her and himself. BLOOD/GORE We see a little blood on a dead man's hand after he's been shot. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Some of Acheson's men zoom in on Elise's butt (in a tight dress) using a surveillance camera and ponder if she's wearing underwear or not. We hear that Pearce is wanted by Scotland Yard for possessing three-quarters of a billion in illegal assets. When Frank says what his name is, Elise playfully responds, "That's a terrible name" (her comment makes sense regarding how things ultimately play out). One of Acheson's men tells his subordinate that information he's seeing is above his clearance and orders him to get back to work. Instead, that man phones Shaw's men with the info. Shaw tells his men they can kill Elise but not Frank, at least until he has his money back from him. Despite Frank's life being in danger, Acheson says making sure he's safe is not their mandate. A cop says he's taking Frank to safety when he's really delivering him to Shaw's goons in exchange for money. We hear that Pearce stole billions from Shaw. When one of his men disappoints him, Shaw takes a measuring tape and strangles the man dead with that. Elise says that Shaw owns various properties including brothels, and that he killed all of the men who slept with his wife before they met, and then killed her after learning how many men that was. SPOILER ALERT: We learn that Elise is really a Scotland Yard inspector who was suspended for running off and living with Pearce for a year rather than bring him in as ordered. Just to mess with him, Acheson makes Frank think he (Acheson) believes Frank is Pearce despite already knowing that's not correct. Shaw talks of crimes of passion, and that if he catches a man sleeping with his wife, he kills both of them. He then adds that if someone steals from him, he kills that person, their entire family, and even their doctor. FRIGHTENING SCENES Two of Shaw's men show up in Frank's hotel room, with one showing he has a handgun in his waistband. Frank then slams and locks the bathroom doors, with the men then shooting through them to get them open. Frank then goes out the window and jumps across an alley to the adjacent building's slanted tile roof (with one shooting at him, but the other reminds the first they can't kill him). In just his pajamas and still barefoot, he runs across that, pursued by the men. He then makes his way onto a balcony after shuffling along a ledge. With the men again closing in, he jumps from that down onto a fruit stand canopy, crashing through that and onto the crates below. He then gets up to run and accidentally knocks a cop into a body of water. While Frank is tied onboard a boat, Elise pilots by and throws him a rope. He ties that to his boat and she speeds off, pulling his boat behind hers (through a Venetian canal). Shaw's goons shoot at her boat, while one jumps onto the side and she hits him with a life preserver ring to make him fall off. Frank then uses his foot to steer his boat overtop the goon in the water as he prepares to shoot her (we don't know his fate). Others then shoot at Elise (with handguns that fire like machine guns), while one jumps onto Frank's boat. He tries to steer the boat with his foot to rock the guy off, and then throws his shoulder into the man, but that does no good. The man then pulls a knife, but rather than stab Frank, he starts to cut the line that ties him to the boat. Elise then backs her boat into Frank's and then speeds away, pulling Frank off his boat via a rope with the man holding onto him (until Frank kicks him in the face and leaves him behind in the canal). When one of his men disappoints him, Shaw takes a measuring tape and strangles the man dead with that. Shaw and his men have control of Elise, while Acheson's snipers are ready across the way to take action. One of Shaw's men then throws Elise to a sofa. Shaw then overturns a bookcase and then another before slapping Elise, all trying to make her say where his money is. He then grabs Elise by the hair and holds a knife to her, all while Acheson refuses to give the order for the snipers to shoot. Shaw again grabs Elise and holds the knife to her face, including running it along her lower lip. Shaw again grabs Elise, and a thug holds his handgun to her head to make her open a safe, but Frank shows up to rescue her, with Shaw's goons aiming their handguns at him. When things hit the boiling point, Jones gives the snipers the order to shoot and they do, blasting out the windows and hitting and killing Shaw and his goons (we see a little blood on man's hand, but that's it). Acheson then shoots through the locked door to rush in. GUNS/WEAPONS Handguns/Sniper Rifles/Knives: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others and/or cause property damage. See "Violence" for details. We see one of Acheson's men get out a rifle to use on some of Shaw's goons, but Acheson won't let him. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Don't f*cking touch it!" "F*ck!" "Burned to sh*t," "Oh sh*t," "That's a terrible name," "You're ravenous," "You idiot," "Nut case," "(Young) Bastard," "Bloody," "(You're a) Moron," "You asshole," "Idiots," "What the hell /are you doing?" "Who the hell are you?" and "Shut the hell up." Some of the action and stunts could be enticing for some kids to try to imitate. Some of Acheson's men zoom in on Elise's butt (in a tight dress) using a surveillance camera and ponder if she's wearing underwear or not. Elise uses a candle flame to set a letter on fire (to destroy it). A man in a jail cell repeatedly bashes his own head against the cage wall. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A heavy amount of suspenseful and adventurous music plays in the film (although often somewhat lightly in nature). MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 2 "f" words, 2 "s" words, 5 hells, 1 ass (used with "hole") and 1 use of "Oh my God." SEX/NUDITY Some of Acheson's men zoom in on Elise's butt (in a tight dress) using a surveillance camera and ponder if she's wearing underwear or not. Frank tells Elise she's ravenous. She asks if he means "ravishing" and he says yes. She then adds that he's ravenous (toward her) and he says he is. Elise shows a little cleavage in her low-cut dress. Elise passionately kisses Frank, but then says she hopes he doesn't mind sleeping on the hotel room couch. He nearly goes into her room (and she hears him, but her expression doesn't show if this is a good or bad thing), but then rethinks that. During this, she unzips her dress (we see a partial side glimpse of some lingerie) and then removes her dress (we see a partial bra view). Later, Frank goes into her room, comes up behind her and then turns her around and passionately kisses her, but this is all just a dream. Elise says that Shaw owns various properties including brothels, and that he killed all of the men who slept with his wife before they met, and then killed her after learning how many men that was. Elise shows a lot of cleavage at a ball (and everyone stares at her beauty) where other women also show cleavage. Various headless and armless classic statues show male rear nudity and one appears to show out of focus full frontal nudity. Shaw talks of crimes of passion, and that if he catches a man sleeping with his wife, he kills both of them. Frank and Elise passionately kiss. SMOKING Franks smokes electronic cigarettes several times (with Elise being disappointed the first time, telling him he should do what he wants), and then the real thing once, while some minor/miscellaneous characters smoke in a few scenes. Shaw says that unlike how Frank appears, the Pearce he knew had nicotine stains on his teeth. Frank then says he started using electronic cigarettes. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Frank says his wife left him, but we later hear someone report that his wife died three years ago in a car crash (but we later learn none of that is true). Elise says that Shaw killed all of the men who slept with his wife before they met, and then killed her after learning how many men that was. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT We hear that Pearce is wanted by Scotland Yard for possessing three-quarters of a billion in illegal assets. Electronic cigarettes designed to wean people off the real thing. Shaw talks of crimes of passion, and that if he catches a man sleeping with his wife, he kills both of them. He then adds that if someone steals from him, he kills that person, their entire family, and even their doctor. Venice, Italy and its unique setting, architecture and more. VIOLENCE Two of Acheson's men grab and pin a courier to a wall, thinking he might be Pearce. Two of Shaw's men show up in Frank's hotel room, with one showing he has a handgun in his waistband. Frank then slams and locks the bathroom doors, with the men then shooting through them to get them open. Frank then goes out the window and jumps across an alley to the adjacent building's slanted tile roof (with one shooting at him, but the other reminds the first they can't kill him). In just his pajamas and still barefoot, he runs across that, pursued by the men. He then makes his way onto a balcony after shuffling along a ledge. With the men again closing in, he jumps from that down onto a fruit stand canopy, crashing through that and onto the crates below. He then gets up to run and accidentally knocks a cop into a body of water. A man in a jail cell repeatedly bashes his own head against the cage wall. While Frank is tied onboard a boat, Elise pilots by and throws him a rope. He ties that to his boat and she speeds off, pulling his boat behind hers (through a Venetian canal). Shaw's goons shoot at her boat, while one jumps onto the side and she hits him with a life preserver ring to make him fall off. Frank then uses his foot to steer his boat overtop the goon in the water as he prepares to shoot her (we don't know his fate). Others then shoot at Elise (with handguns that fire like machine guns), while one jumps onto Frank's boat. He tries to steer the boat with his foot to rock the guy off, and then throws his shoulder into the man, but that does no good. The man then pulls a knife, but rather than stab Frank, he starts to cut the line that ties him to the boat. Elise then backs her boat into Frank's and then speeds away, pulling Frank off his boat via a rope with the man holding onto him (until Frank kicks him in the face and leaves him behind in the canal). When one of his men disappoints him, Shaw takes a measuring tape and strangles the man dead with that. A man punches Frank in the gut at a ball and he and another man then escort him out. Shaw and his men have control of Elise, while Acheson's snipers are ready across the way to take action. One of Shaw's men then throws Elise to a sofa. Shaw then overturns a bookcase and then another before slapping Elise, all trying to make her say where his money is. He then grabs Elise by the hair and holds a knife to her, all while Acheson refuses to give the order for the snipers to shoot. Shaw again grabs Elise and holds the knife to her face, including running it along her lower lip. Shaw again grabs Elise, and a thug holds his handgun to her head to make her open a safe, but Frank shows up to rescue her, with Shaw's goons aiming their handguns at him. When things hit the boiling point, Jones gives the snipers the order to shoot and they do, blasting out the windows and hitting and killing Shaw and his goons (we see a little blood on man's hand, but that's it). Acheson then shoots through the locked door to rush in. Acheson's men blow a safe open to see what's inside. Reviewed December 8, 2010 / Posted December 10, 2010

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