Susan Granger’s review of “The Interpreter” (Universal Pictures)
Evoking the savvy suspense of “Three Days of the Condor,” director Sydney Pollack delivers a taut, timely thriller propelled by international intrigue and global terrorism. The story begins in Africa, where a journalist and a photographer discover brutal genocide in a deserted soccer stadium. The action then switches to the United Nations in Manhattan, where South African-raised translator Silvia Broome (Nicole Kidman) reports that she’s inadvertently heard a whispered death threat against Edmond Zuwanie (Earl Cameron), the president of the fictional republic of Matobo who is scheduled to address the General Assembly. Realizing that she, too, has become a target of the assassins, Silvia must convince curt, cynical Secret Service agent Tobin Keller (Sean Penn) and his acerbic partner (Catherine Keener) who are assigned to protect Dr. Zuwanie. Suspicious characters abound, along with mysterious and elusive alliances. Director Sydney Pollack and screenwriters Chuck Rudolph, Scott Frank and Steve Zaillian let the explosive urgency of the situation and the ambiguous, high-tension interaction between their skillfully delineated characters propel the plot. While Silvia believes, “Vengeance is a lazy form of grief,” Tobin is highly skeptical of this mysteriously cool, compellingly calculated interpreter. This is the first film ever shot inside U.N. headquarters and photographer Darius Khondji makes the most of the opportunity, prowling the Security Council area and outdoor courtyards as the highly competent ensemble deliver richly textured portrayals. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “The Interpreter” is a realistic, relevant, riveting 8, favoring political diplomacy and compassion over the frenzied forces of violence and packing a powerful cinematic punch.
