 Movie
Reviews
with Evelyn Gough
The Interpreter
Directed by Sydney Pollack
Somewhere in Africa two men enter an empty football stadium. Except it's not empty, its corridors are full of dead bodies. Not a smart move guys. Before you know it there are two more bodies to add to the pile...
After this attention grabbing opening sequence the action shifts to New York and the United Nations Headquarters where African born translator Silvia Broome (Nicole Kidman) overhears what she believes is an assassination plot.
Federal agent Tobin Keller (Sean Penn) doesn't believe her, but with a high profile, extremely unpopular African dictator about to make an appearance at the UN, he can't take any chances.
And he was right not to trust Silvia - she obviously knows a lot more than she is letting on... Is she a target as well?
The Interpreter is the first movie in history allowed access to the United Nations HQ, which is officially considered international territory. Previously everyone else had to fake it, including Hitchcock in North by Northwest. And speaking of faking it... Nicole, in my opinion, manages to pull off a very passable accent. Not that I'm an expert on African accents, mind you. What is less believable is the chemistry between her and Sean Penn. I just wasn't feeling the lurve, guys!
After hearing several reviews for The Interpreter I went into it prepared to concentrate. No convoluted plot was going to get the better of me or so I thought. Well, I concentrated so much I staggered from the cinema two and a half hours later with a splitting headache. (Did I mention I was blonde?) I did my best but I have to admit some of this movie just does not compute. Looking on the bright side, I wasn't bored!
I'm not a huge Nicole Kidman fan but I am an admirer of Sydney Pollack. The Interpreter is a classy, intense thriller that requires some work, but for most it will be worth the effort.
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