The Interpreter

Working as an interpreter in the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Silvia Broome (Nicole Kidman) hopes to play some small part in the quest for peace. She comes from the war-torn African country of Matobo where her parents and sister were killed by a landmine. Late one evening Silvia overhears two men talking and realises that they are planning the assassination of an African leader who is coming to New York to address the UN. Their target is the much hated President Zuwanie, the president of Matobo. Silvia goes to the authorities with her information, and secret service agents Tobin Keller (Sean Penn) and Dot Woods (Catherine Keener) are assigned to investigate. As Keller starts gathering information he realises that Silvia might be more involved than she is letting on...

For the most part this is a serious intelligent political thriller that incorporates some serious material, including issues of genocide, terrorism and the role of the United Nations. It starts slowly enough, building up the intrigue and developing the characters. Some of the movie is actually filmed at the United Nations Headquarters building in New York and this adds to the realism. The hustle and bustle of delegate meetings and conferences is well captured, as is, the huge security operation that ensures that diplomats and delegates come to no harm.

The stage is nicely set for a good old-fashioned political thriller that requires your attention in order to follow the story. However, the story relies on some unlikely events and hinges on some unlikely coincidences. For example, it's a little too convenient that one of the few people who could translate the Matobo dialect is the person that happens to overhear the assassination plot. One or two coincidences or implausible parts can be overlooked otherwise you might never have the makings of a good story, but when the story over-relies on these it begins to lose credibility.

As far as the acting goes it cannot be faulted. Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman, who play emotionally scared characters, are excellent. Silvia (Nicole Kidman) is a citizen of Matobo and her family has suffered greatly from the violence and killing in the region. Sean Penn plays a secret agent who has just returned to work after losing his wife who died in a car accident. Interesting, it is the characters' loss and pain that draws them together as they being to understand each other but it also keeps them apart.

Bottom Line: A few silly bits detract from an otherwise clever, well-acted, thriller. If you enjoy The Interpreter you might also like Spy Game, or The Manchurian Candidate.

Reviewed by Niall Quinn, Premier Movie Reviews 2005.

RELATED MOVIE REVIEWS:  NICOLE KIDMAN:  Birth,   Cold Mountain,  Moulin Rouge,  The Others,  The Hours,  The Stepford Wives:  SEAN PENN: Mystic River.

Genre: Thriller/Drama

Director: Sydney Pollack

Certificate: The Interpreter is rated 12A by the Irish Film Censor's Office (www.ifco.ie) i.e. suitable for those of twelve years of age and upwards. Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult. The movie contains moderate violence.

Official Movie Website: The Interpreter

~ Main Cast ~

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Nicole Kidman

Sean Penn

Catherine Keener

Jesper Christensen