Handlung

A tourist on the train to Venice is approached by a mysterious woman for an unusual reason.

Elise (Angelina Jolie) sits next to an American tourist, Frank (Johnny Depp), on a train going to Venice. She has chosen him as a decoy, making believe that he is her lover who is wanted by police. Not only will they need to evade the police, but also the mobster whose money her lover stole.—Douglas Young (the-movie-guy)

A woman sitting in a Parisian café reads a letter telling her to take the train to Venice, pick a man of the sender's height and build, and chat him up. She's being watched: Scotland Yard and a mobster with a crew of Russian thugs are looking for a man she knows. On the train, she talks to an American, Frank, suggests they have dinner, and, once in Venice, invites him to her hotel. The bait is set: the Russians think Frank is the man they want: Alexander Pearce, who stole billions from the mobster. Scotland Yard realizes Frank is a just a tourist, but by now he's in danger, smitten by the mystery woman, and in their way. Can the Yard keep Frank from death and still catch Pearce?—<jhailey@hotmail.com>

A middle-aged female travels overseas to unlock a hidden secret that could change everything. Along the way, she is helped by a middle-aged male who pretends to be someone else who claims that he does not know how to unlock the deep hidden secret.—RECB3

A British woman, Elise Clifton-Ward (Angelina Jolie), is being followed through downtown Paris by French police who are working with Scotland Yard under the direction of Inspector John Acheson (Paul Bettany). Acheson has spent years hunting Alexander Pearce, Elise's lover, who owes 744 million pounds in back taxes, and is believed to have received plastic surgery to alter his appearance. He is also being hunted by Reginald Shaw (Steve Burkoff), a mobster from whom Pearce stole $2.3 billion.

At a Parisian Cafe, Elise receives a courier delivered by hand. The package had written instructions from Pearce: board the train to Venice, Italy to pick out a man and let the police believe that he is Pearce. Elise burns the note, evades the police, and boards the train. Acheson's efforts to catch Pearce has already cost 8 million pounds. Chief Inspector Jone believes Acheson has no chance of apprehending Pearce and orders him to stop the investigation. Acheson continues regardless.

On the train, Elise selects Frank Tupelo (Johnny Depp), a mathematics teacher from a community college in Wisconsin. Acheson salvages information about the plan from the remains of the burned note. Meanwhile, one of the French agents (who is still following Elise), sends Franks's photo to Acheson. Acheson runs a facial recognition of Frank and finds that he is a math teacher, who lost his wife 3 years ago in a car accident. He is a tourist, headed to Venice. Acheson had Italian Interpol at the Venice station to arrest Frank as soon as the train arrived, but after learning his identity, he cancels the operation.

Aware of Elise's location, but not of the ruse, a British policeman on Shaw's payroll alerts Shaw that Pearce is on the train to Venice with Elise. Shaw immediately proceeds to Venice with his entourage. Shaw instructs his men that they can kill Elise, but not Pearce, till he has his money back.

Elise and Frank get off at the Venice train station and go their separate ways. Elise hires a water taxi and finds Frank at the pier, looking at maps of Venice. Elise invites Frank to stay with her at the Hotel Danieli in Venice. Elise's room at her usual hotel is already outfitted with a selection of expensive gown, footwear and jewelry. Elise takes Frank for dinner where Frank guesses that Elise is waiting for her boyfriend. Elise admits that she has been summoned to Venice, after not hearing from her boyfriend in 2 years. Back at her room, Elise goes to the balcony and sees agents watching her. She kisses Frank to give the clear indication to the agents that Frank is indeed Pearce.

Pearce leaves instructions for Elise to attend a ball. Elise abandons Frank, who is chased by Shaw's men inside Elise's hotel room. While trying to escape, Frank is detained by the Italian local police. The Italian Interpol was monitoring the situation, and Acheson was very clear that Elise has engaged Frank to distract the police, and he tells the Italians that Frank is not their mandate.

Frank is interrogated by a police inspector, and he narrates the entire story to him. The inspector holds Frank in a lock-up to verify his story. Later that night, the inspector takes Frank out saying that it is not safe for him. Frank realizes that he is being handed over to Shaw's men for a bounty.

Elise rescues Frank just before he is handed over by towing away his boat by securing it to her own, leading Shaw's men on an extended boat chase, before finally escaping. Elise is apologetic to get Frank involved in this. She tells Frank that Shaw is a Brit, who surrounds himself with Russians. Alex used to be his private banker and stole money from him. Frank says that he doesn't regret kissing Elise (which made everyone believe that he is Alex in the first place). Elise still follows Alex's instructions to the letter. She leaves Frank at the airport with his passport and money, urging him to go home for his own safety. Elise had feelings for Frank, but is loyal to Alex

Elise is revealed to be an undercover Scotland Yard agent who was under suspension for her suspected sympathies with Pearce. She agrees to participate in a sting operation to bring Pearce to justice. At the ball, as Elise tries to find Pearce, a man places an envelope on her table and disappears into the crowd. She tries to follow him but is stopped by Frank, who claims to be in love with her and invites her to dance. The police arrive and take Frank into protective custody. Elise reads the note and leaves in her boat, tailed by Shaw. Both parties are followed by the police.

When Elise lands, Shaw takes her hostage, threatening to harm her unless she reveals the location of a hidden safe where Pearce is keeping the stolen money. The police monitor the situation via hidden cameras. Acheson repeatedly refuses to allow Italian police snipers to intervene to rescue Elise as he is waiting for Alex to show up. While the police are occupied in monitoring the situation (Acheson also reveals to Frank that Elise is an undercover agent and can take care of herself), Frank escapes and confronts Shaw, claiming to be Pearce and offering to open the safe if Elise is allowed to leave.

Shaw tells Frank to open the safe or he will have Elise tortured. Chief Inspector Jones (Timothy Dalton) arrives at the police stake-out, overrides Acheson, and orders the snipers to fire, killing Shaw and his men. To Elise's obvious pleasure, Jones lifts her suspension and fires her on the spot.

Acheson receives a message that Pearce has been found nearby. On arrival, he learns the police have detained an Englishman. The man says he is only a tourist being paid to follow instructions and is not Pearce. Elise tells Frank that she loves him, but she also loves Pearce. Frank opens the safe by entering the correct code, revealing that he was Alexander Pearce all along.

When the police come back and open the safe, they find one check for 744 million pounds. Acheson prepares to pursue Pearce, but since the taxes are now paid, Jones closes the case. Pearce and Elise sail away together.