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A polished and intelligent thriller, though marred by plot implausibilities.
All Critics (194) | Top Critics (46) | Fresh (110) | Rotten (84) | DVD (18)
Penn is terrific in his low-key doggedness. May 12, 2006
Penn is terrific in his low-key doggedness.
Ken Tucker
This is largely a competent, successful thriller, but observing global politics from this perspective is an uncomfortable, frustrating experience. Feb 9, 2006 | Full Review…
This is largely a competent, successful thriller, but observing global politics from this perspective is an uncomfortable, frustrating experience.
Dave Calhoun
The film's themes are disappointingly vague and unspecific, built around a fictitious African country that stands for anywhere -- and consequently nowhere. Sep 26, 2005
The film's themes are disappointingly vague and unspecific, built around a fictitious African country that stands for anywhere -- and consequently nowhere.
Scott Tobias
I was steadily absorbed by The Interpreter, even though much of the plot didn't make a great deal of sense. Apr 28, 2005 | Full Review…
I was steadily absorbed by The Interpreter, even though much of the plot didn't make a great deal of sense.
Andrew Sarris
While it pains me to beat up on Pollack, who, in addition to being a consistently wonderful actor, is at least attempting to make movies the old-fashioned way, it pains me more to actually sit through his movies. Apr 23, 2005
While it pains me to beat up on Pollack, who, in addition to being a consistently wonderful actor, is at least attempting to make movies the old-fashioned way, it pains me more to actually sit through his movies.
Stephanie Zacharek
As a straight-ahead thriller, the movie is enjoyable and stirring much of the time. Apr 22, 2005 | Full Review…
As a straight-ahead thriller, the movie is enjoyable and stirring much of the time.
Desson Thomson
As a character drama about dealing with violence and loss, The Interpreter is a quiet success. Unfortunately, it's a thriller, and all of the qualities that make it a successful character study rob it of the tension a thriller needs to succeed. Mar 27, 2011 | Rating: 5/10 | Full Review…
As a character drama about dealing with violence and loss, The Interpreter is a quiet success. Unfortunately, it's a thriller, and all of the qualities that make it a successful character study rob it of the tension a thriller needs to succeed.
Joshua Starnes
Much ballyhooed for its on-location filming in and around the United Nations building in Manhattan "The Interpreter" works better as a captivating drama than it does as an espionage thriller due to some sticking plot points that prevent the audience from Apr 18, 2009 | Rating: B | Full Review…
Much ballyhooed for its on-location filming in and around the United Nations building in Manhattan "The Interpreter" works better as a captivating drama than it does as an espionage thriller due to some sticking plot points that prevent the audience from
Cole Smithey
It's a dumb movie masquerading as smart but failing miserably. May 27, 2008 | Full Review…
It's a dumb movie masquerading as smart but failing miserably.
Jamie Russell
High-class to a fault, and well-cast in every supporting role ... nevertheless burns with a very low flame. Sep 24, 2007 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
High-class to a fault, and well-cast in every supporting role ... nevertheless burns with a very low flame.
Rob Gonsalves
It may not be a perfect film, but it's just nice to see a master at work. Jul 14, 2007 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
It may not be a perfect film, but it's just nice to see a master at work.
Joe Lozito
Now we know actors are just that, but it's a little hard to suspend disbelief and buy Sean as a government agent out to foil an assassination plot, when just a few months ago he was out to assassinate Richard Nixon on screen. Jun 2, 2007
Now we know actors are just that, but it's a little hard to suspend disbelief and buy Sean as a government agent out to foil an assassination plot, when just a few months ago he was out to assassinate Richard Nixon on screen.
Prairie Miller
A disastrous film that wants to be more complex than it should be, coming up with more and more unnecessary details at the expense of simple concision, and so the obvious, predictable narrative gets lost amid contrivances, implausible scenes and plot holes the size of Africa.
Super Reviewer
Kidman and Penn are good actors but the script is a bit limited, especially in terms of characterization, and it just leaves you thinking that this could've been so much better than what it was. Good thriller.
Tobin Keller: I'd rather make the mistake of believing her, than the bigger one of not. "The truth needs no translation" Despite liking both Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn(both of whom give good performances), I was left underwhelmed when The Interpreter was all said and done. For the most part, it was really just a dull drama with some thriller elements tossed in here and there. It never had me on the edge of my seat like it could have. It's not technically a horrible movie, but I really found no joy in it. Other then the leads; the film doesn't really have any redeemable qualities. It's really dialogue heavy which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the dialogue leaves a lot to be desired. There are a few really interesting scenes, but as a whole the movie never really comes together. It doesn't flow at a good pace. It's slow, slower and then slowest and then for a three minute stretch it will pick up the pace. Then it will go back to it's snail crawl. I'm okay with slow films if they have good characters, dialogue and situations. This movie has one interesting character(Kidman's, Penn's character was lifeless, although he did play him well), bad dialogue and two or three cool situations. I really wish this would have turned out different with the people involved. But I guess I can just go watch one of Penn's or Kidman's countless great movies.
"The Interpreter" is an emotional final film from Sydney Pollack. This is a classy picture that harkens back to the political thrillers of the 60s, but it's done in such a way that it actually hinders much of the plot. The plot, while fitfully absorbing, can dip into the convoluted, but thankfully, the strength of the characterizations and the accompanying performances make up for it. Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn deliver fine work, in roles that give them much more to do rather than fall in love or other such cliches of the genre. "The Interpreter", overall, works fine as a film but works better when viewed as the capstone for a talented director's career.
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