The M.O.W.'s Movie Review of The Interpreter

Rating of
3/4

The Interpreter

Good political thriller
The M.O.W. - wrote on 08/02/08

United Nations South African interpreter "Silvia Broone," who inteprets in the UN General Assembly for the (fictional) South African country, "Motobo," who overhears a conversation while getting her things she had to leave behind when the building was evacuated earlier in the day. The conversation just happens to be in in the "Motobo" dialect.

The conversation she hears, through an open mic on the General Assembly floor, is about an assassination. It takes her a few seconds to realize the conversation is about killing the "Motobo" leader. She then goes to report the conversation to her UN superiors, who contacts the Secret Service to help protect and escort the "Motobo" leader to the UN. Secret Service Agent "Tobin Keller," a widower for a little over two weeks, is put in charge of the Secret Service team, and he immediately has to deal with "Broone" keeping details of her past to herself.

We are slowly shown glimpses of "Broone's" past as the film progresses. "Keller" really starts going after her, the more she refuses to talk about her past. Pollack was real smart by not dumping information almost immediately, nor does he give us the info seconds apart. In fact, Pollack keeps the audience guessing as the movie unfolds.

The performances are pretty strong in this movie, especially from Kidman and Penn. There is some problems with character development however, especially with supporting characters.

Kidman, who actually learned the fictional language of "Motobo", has a very thick African-sounding accent that really helps the character. She also makes you believe that the fictional language is real when she easily speaks lines in that language.

The special effects are kept to a minimum, surprisingly. There is some gunplay and explosions, but that is basically it.

The film makers were given special permission from the UN to film at the UN Headquarters building, which is a first in the organization's history. They didn't even give Alfred Hitchcock permission. Because of this, the film is really believable.

There is some good camerawork in the film, especially when the story begins to reach its climax. There are also lots of suspenseful moments which keeps you on the edge of your seat during those scenes. There is also some scenes which seem to drag some.

Despite minor flaws,this is one that could by worth taking a look at as a possible first choice the next time you rent a movie.

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