Twelve years after this movie was made, big capital still runs the world. In an era in which international banks and other huge corporations have superseded governments, this movie is prescient. But that also means the film is complex, which seems to have alienated some viewers -- judging by the negative comments posted on IMDB by "keep it simple" advocates. Some viewers have also complained that the two main actors, Clive Owen and Naomi Watts, don't seem real enough in the challenges presented to them. Owen portrays an obsessive former police officer who has taken a job with Interpol. He is uncomfortable there because Interpol does not have arrest authority and is primarily a data gatherer. Watts is a New York deputy District Attorney who has a husband and child at home. No, there is no romance between the two main characters, a cliche that other movies commonly exploit. If you're looking for adherence to movie formulas you've seen repeatedly, this is not the film for you.
Some viewers may not be aware that the story about the fictitious IBBC (International Bank of Business and Credit) was inspired by the real circumstances of BCCI (Bank of Credit and Commerce International), which had connections to several American banks. Investigations in various countries ultimately led to the demise of BCCI. Although the bank was liquidated, most governing individuals associated with it escaped punishment.
Some viewers may not be aware that the story about the fictitious IBBC (International Bank of Business and Credit) was inspired by the real circumstances of BCCI (Bank of Credit and Commerce International), which had connections to several American banks. Investigations in various countries ultimately led to the demise of BCCI. Although the bank was liquidated, most governing individuals associated with it escaped punishment.