The Interpreter DVD Review

"THE INTERPRETER" reviews

DVD

THE INTERPRETER

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2006-05-29 15:30:31

Provider

DVD Review

This thriller from respected director/actor Sydney Pollack casts Nicole Kidman in one of her most demanding roles to date as an African-born United Nations translator.

She plays Silvia Broome who's employed at the UN headquarters in New York. There she overhears whispered details of what appears to be an attempt to assassinate an African Head of State. She informs the authorities and Tobin Keller (Sean Penn) and his professional partner (Catherine Keener) are sent in to prevent the occurrence of what would be a terrible international political incident.

However, as you would imagine in real life international politics, things are far from straightforward. Keller gets suspicious of Silvia and many potential suspects emerge.

The reliable Sean Penn again puts heart and soul into his performance as Keller whose instinct is to study people's actions while the interpreter is more inclined to believe in words. Both characters have suffered loss, in Broome's case her family and country while Keller's wife recently passed away. All that emotion is barely subdued while they attempt to be professional and the actors do a brilliant job in capturing that.

With it's United Nations setting (the first time a film's ever been shot there) the story might sound quite Hitchcockian but this film is probably more about the emotions of the individuals than it is suspense. However, the old master himself would have been proud of The Interpreter's thoroughly thrilling conclusion.

Pollack, who makes an appearance as a Secret Service Head of Department, has done an excellent job here while the likes of Earl Cameron and the aforementioned Keener support Kidman and Penn - whose chemistry is superb - admirably.

DVD extras include an audio commentary from director Sydney Pollack, a look inside the prestigious United Nations building in New York featurette, plus a documentary explaining the challenges of making The Interpreter. There's also deleted scenes, an alternative ending and much more.