Catherine Keener, Clyde Kusatsu, Earl Cameron

Escalating events begin when African-born U.N. translator Silvia Broome alleges that she has overheard a death threat against an African head of state, spoken in a rare dialect few people other than S...( read more  read more... )ilvia can understand. With the words "The Teacher will never leave this room alive," in an instant, Silvia's life is turned upside down as she becomes a hunted target of the killers. Placed under the protection of federal agent Tobin Keller, Silvia's world only grows more nightmarish. As Keller digs deeper into his eyewitnesses' past and her secretive world of global connections, the more suspicious he becomes that she herself might be involved in the conspiracy. With every step of the way, he finds more reasons to mistrust her. Is Sylvia a victim? A suspect? Or something else entirely? And can Tobin, coping with his own personal heartache, keep her safe? Though they must depend on one another, Silvia and Tobin couldn't be more different. Silvia's strengths are words, diplomacy and the subtleties of meaning, while Tobin is all about instinct, action and reading into the most primal human behaviors. Now, as the danger of a major assassination on U.S. soil grows and Silvia's life hangs in the balance, Silvia and Tobin play out a gripping dance of evasion and revelation that keeps them both guessing as they race to stop a terrifying international crisis before it's too late.

Flixster Users

58% liked it

64,926 ratings

Critics

58% liked it

185 critics

PG-13, 2 hrs. 8 min.

Directed by: Sydney Pollack

Release Date: April 22, 2005

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DVD Release Date: October 4, 2005

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Stats: 2,843 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,843)


  • October 19, 2009
    I kept waiting for The Interpreter to kick into high gear and become the thriller that the DVD case advertises, but that never really happened. It's not exactly dull, but calling it a thriller is a pretty huge stretch. There are long periods in its 2+ hours of the same conversati...( read more)ons being recycled over and over.

    As for the story, it's a bit wobbly. There are a few scenes inserted into the movie seemingly to make sure that the viewer knows the true antagonist long before the story properly reveals what's going on. Nicole Kidman and her pretty hair will only keep you interested for so long, more intrigue and action would have done a lot to lift The Interpreter above mediocrity.
  • September 24, 2009
    This is a really good thriller, one of the best in recent years. Penn and Kidman do a good job!
  • March 8, 2009
    A decent if predictable thriller that puts two great actors opposite each other with enjoyable results, and does have a handful of "pulse-pounding" moments. Sydney Pollack shoots New York so well, and this film is no exception. It won't blow you away but it's a solid movie in whi...( read more)ch Penn and Kidman play interesting and layered characters. A better script would have allowed them to truly shine.
  • December 18, 2008
    "The truth needs no translation."

    An overheard conversation leads a woman into a dark world of deadly intrigue in this political thriller. Silvia Broome (Nicole Kidman) is an African émigré who works as an interpreter at the United Nations. One of the languages she unde...( read more)rstands is Ku, a dialect spoken in her home country of Matobo. One day, as the General Assembly auditorium is being evacuated for a routine security sweep, Broome overhears a man speaking in Ku, who makes a cryptic statement that could be interpreted as a threat against the life of Zuwanie (Earl Cameron), Matobo's controversial ruler. Secret Service agent Tobin Keller (Sean Penn) is brought in to investigate Broome's story, and it isn't long before he's convinced that she knows more than she's willing to tell. As Keller and his partner, Dot Woods (Catherine Keener), dig deeper into Broome's story as well as her past, they discover a shocking tale of violence and corruption tied to Zuwanie's regime.

    Review
    My first reaction after seeing this movie was how dramatically different the first and second half of the movie was. It was like all the tension, which was building up finally exploded at the climax of the story. I thought it was a good political thriller despite the rather predictable nature of the story. The main weak point of the story however was the rather weak storyline of Tobin Keller and how it was linked to Broome.

    The obvious strong point of the movie was the strong performance of the two lead actors Kidman and Penn. Kidman was particularly strong as the Interpreter who hears more than she should. Overall Sydney Pollack did well in harnessing the talent of two premiere actors and produce a satisfying political thriller.
  • December 12, 2008
    "The truth needs no translation."

    If theres anything I liked with this one, its the combination of Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn, they were like ying and yang in thi...( read more)s movie. I just loved watching them while they exchanged dialogues.

    As for the story, Its fairly good, not realistic but it gives enough to entertain its viewers.
  • November 20, 2009
    Well, this was just a big let down.
  • November 15, 2009
    esta peli me encanto!
    la vi hace muxo y te mantiene muy entretenido...
    se las recomiendo
  • November 9, 2009
    still like it no matter what the critics say...
  • October 14, 2009
    Actuaciones exelentesun drama bien echo no se que mas decir
  • October 4, 2009
    Had me in suspense sometimes, but the film was confusing.

Critic Reviews


May 22, 2005
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

A political thriller afraid of politics and bereft of thrills. full review

April 26, 2005
Kurt Loder, MTV

The movie is crowded and confusing ... [and] droops all the way down to one of the limpest, most inconsequential final scenes I have ever witnessed. full review

April 23, 2005
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

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... full review

April 22, 2005
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

Ticks along like a freshly wound-up clock, smart and precise, keeping its audience just breathless enough not to notice that more than two hours have passed. full review

April 21, 2005
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

What I admire most about the film is the way it enters the terms of this world -- of international politics, security procedures, shifting motives -- and observes the details of all-night stakeouts, s... full review

April 21, 2005
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

Conventionally described as a political thriller, but The Interpreter is as apolitical as it is unthrilling. full review

April 21, 2005
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

The movie will grab you. full review

April 21, 2005
David Edelstein, Slate

Too bloated with its own significance to deliver the requisite thrills. full review

April 21, 2005
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

It is the sort of thoughtful, grown-up entertainment that the big studios hardly make anymore. full review

April 20, 2005
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker

Such, unfortunately, is the pitfall for thrillers that aim to be more literate and grownup than the usual fare: they sometimes forget to thrill. full review

View more The Interpreter reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • Tellus
    August 2, 2007
    Check out the video clip of Kidman Interview about "The Interpreter" (2005), Kidman looks great!

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The Interpreter Trivia


  • I starred in Moulin Rouge!, The Stepford Wives, and The Interpreter. Who am I?  Answer »
  • Who played the female lead role in "The Interpreter"?  Answer »
  • What movie contains the tagline: The truth doesn't need to be translated Starring Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn  Answer »
  • Which Actress played the lead roles in the movies The Others, Moulin Rouge & The Interpreter?  Answer »

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