The Interpreter --- needs further translation....

© Universal Pictures

Title:
The Interpreter (B+)
PH Release Date:
April 20, 2005
Actors:
Nicole Kidman, Sean Penn, Catherine Keener, Max Minghella, Jesper Christensen
Director:
Sydney Pollack
Story and Screenplay:
Scott Frank, Charles Randolph & Steven Zaillian
Producer:
Kevin Misher et al.
Studio:
Universal Pictures


© Universal Pictures

“Vengeance is a lazy form of grief”

Oh, c’mon! If given the chance to drown somebody who killed someone I love, there’s no way I’m holding back. Sometimes, the only way to get serenity, is to put to rest the one who caused your agony, or at least make them feel the same anguish they brought you. If karma won’t come to them, then be the karma that will bring them down. I’m going nowhere here, oh right, the review.

In the movie, Kidman plays the role of a UN interpreter Silvia Broome, born in America but raised in Africa. Accidentally, she overheard a threat to the life of Motoban leader Zumie to whom she is somehow connected with. Sean Penn's character, is out to find the truth behind her claim, judging her entirely different from the way she does it. He looks, she listens. What started to be considerably a rumor, ends up to be their only lead to a convoluted plot.




© Universal Pictures

The movie to say at least is promising. It is a good flick. The first half spells a great political thriller that seemed of very new concept because of the gorgeous backdrop of the UN NY Office. The crew is very lucky to obtain permission to shoot inside one of the most guarded buildings in the world, cuz it brought life to the movie and made it more believable and interesting.

The story did work during the beginning. It was spanking new, gripping, and commendable, frame-by-frame. However, the movie started to falter during the final 30 minutes on its way to the ending. After the blast, the movie seemed to have been too shattered by the explosion that its characters seemed to have turned stupid all of a sudden, doing things that are way far out of their dispositions.


© Universal Pictures

I honestly think this movie was rushed. They were trying to avoid losing the interest of the viewers so they tried to hurry down the conclusion. They succeeded on not losing the viewers interest, but they were also successful in disappointing them and turning the good impression it made to utter frustration. I won’t say that it fell into the cracks of second-rate thrillers, but in this time where free TV offers the same degree of intelligent thrillers, the challenge to be great is higher and the movie failed to reach its peak.

Legendary film director Pollack can still handle the lenses so well despite his age. It’s important to note that he has been making movies since the 50’s, that’s why Eastwood said, compared to him he’s just a kid. If Clint regards me as such, I’m oughta be worried, cuz he’s like putrefying, that will make me what???? A lot of the films he made I haven’t seen yet so I don’t know how to compare this one. It is certainly of different degree than Tootsie, or Out of Africa. A good script is needed to make a thriller but I do believe greater responsibility and credit lies to the director. He was able to pump up this movie from start to finish, even in the latter parts. However, the homestretch was truly all rush and no essence.


© Universal Pictures

The scoring was great, this is something that TV lacks, and it was wise of them to have James Newton Howard on board to make that clear edge. However, I thought the editing in the final half of the movie, at best, was as good as those seen on TV. The production and design blended well with the movie, but one thing I’m just confused of is that on one scene where Silvia finds out that Zumui (not sure) was coming, the representative of Motoba’s sign was Philippines. What’s up with that??? It was really weird, it was shown pretty clearly and it just doesn’t add up. Since when did our country become a part of Africa??? I don’t remember Jinky Oda sitting as our president. And oh, if you try to be more observant, you’ll notice that the seat of our country’s UN rep is actually in the middle row of the middle column. That was a nice thing to learn.

Nicole Kidman is as captivating as before. You just can’t take away your eyes from the screen everytime she’s on it. It may not be an Oscar-worthy performance because of the character but she sure delivered the goods and I ate them all. Sean Penn is good, he’s character is trying to be compassionate which I believe will not take him much effort to do since he was so concerned about pointing out how great Jude Law is. I really can’t get over this one. It was just totally uncalled for and it destroyed my view of him drastically. He’s a great actor but get a life! According to a cast list I saw online, Richard Gere was part of the movie but I never saw him. Not on a cameo role, nothing. His name was also not in the credits so I guess they just made a mistake. But I don’t know, take a good look and tell me if you see him.


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A pumped up thriller that sadly, runs out of gas on the way to the finish line. A socially relevant movie that may not directly point out important issues of our time but touches them with complete care, which for me is more than enough. Not a moment of boredom and incredibly entertaining almost till the last frame. It’s one of the better modern thrillers around and I say a must-see. That is the truth, and it needs no translation.

Grading Sheet:
Story – 16%
Screenplay – 16%
Direction / Execution – 17%
Acting – 19%
Technical Aspect – 17%
Total: 59% = B+