April 26, 2005 -- “The Interpreter” is a big, glossy Hollywood film that is supposed to be suspenseful, but isn't. The film, directed by veteran Sydney Pollack (“Random Hearts”) is beautiful to look at with lovely cinematography by Darius Khondji (“Panic Room”), great sets and location shots in the United Nations building in New York (the first film ever shot inside the building). The stars of the film, Sean Penn, Nicole Kidman and Katherine Keener, are top-notch. The problem is, the story is utterly non-compelling. I was unable to work up any interest about how it would end. I was just hoping it would end.

The story has to do with a plot to assassinate the leader of an African country, one of those murderous despots who is engaged in genocide. The problem is, who cares if the guy lives or dies? He's a freaking mass murderer! It is impossible to work up any sympathy for him. Already the movie lacks suspense. It then becomes a mystery. Who is the killer? Again, who cares? The movie spends over an hour trying to develop a list of ho-hum suspects. A little interest is generated when somebody tries to wipe out the interpreter, Silvia Broome (Kidman), who overheard the plot to kill the leader. The sexual tension between Broome and federal agent Tobin Keller (Penn) also generates some interest, but it is a pretty tame relationship.

Dot Woods (Catherine Keener of “Full Frontal”), the wizecracking federal agent partner of Keller's, livens up all the scenes she is in, but hers is a disappointingly small part in the movie. We never get the feeling she has much to do but make a few pithy comments. Little attention is given to characters other than Broome and Keller. While we get to know Keller pretty well, we learn little about Broome or Woods. Broome is a very mysterious character whose emotions are hidden for much of the film. She seems coolly detached, which puts a damper on any possible Keller-Broome romance. So the characters aren't developed enough for us to really care about and the film is emotionally cool, making the story fairly uninvolving.

The film has a great look to it and the actors do as good a job with these roles as anyone could possible expect. Kidman also has a very sexy voice and Keener steals scenes whenever she gets a chance. All three actors have real screen presence. They grab your attention when they are on the screen, and at least one of them is on the screen most of the time. Pollack is a great director, but he hasn't made a great film since “Tootsie.” With all these talented people, somebody should have noticed that the script needed a rewirte, and that it was emotionally distant. It is a story that lacks both conflict and resolution. It has plenty of mood and plenty of attitude. It is all dressed up with nowhere to go. This film rates a C.

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Copyright © 2005 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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