The movie starts with a bang and the tension mounts with the open mike incidence at the UN center. Then, a lull phase kicks in with lots of fluffy subplots including background check, lie detector test, family history which drag it on and on. Those are perhaps needed for character development but could have been made more interesting. The tempo picks up after Silvia is put under 24 hr surveillance and with the ensuing events. Good acting from S. Penn and N. Kidman although she physically looks too soft and delicate for what she went through in her childhood and young adult years. The plot is sort of predictable but with good acting and directing, the movie is still enjoyable if you ignore the utterly puerile finale.

The Interpreter is a tense, taut, and tight thriller that grabs your attention from the opening scene. I was surprised at the fairly mediocre reviews because it's way better than that. It's nothing new and the story/script is a little weak, but the acting is incredibly strong and the film itself is very engaging and interesting to say the least.Sydney Pollack's film is about a U.N interpreter from Africa, Silvia who overhears a plot to assassinate the president of Matobo. After she reports the plot, she is named as a suspect and is kept a close eye on by Tobin Keller who works for the Secret Service. But Silvia is about to find out her own world may be crashing in on her.The acting is very strong and that is a highlight of the film. Sean Penn easily distinguishes himself with each movie and is very good and has a strong screen presence. Nicole Kidman, with her slight trace of an African accent, is also very good and I find this role to be one o her best.Overall, this is a political thriller that will keep you on the tightropes. It may not offer anything new, but it does offer some entertainment and a story worth remembering. This film is also known as Sydney Pollack's last film and I find this film to be a worthy example of all the wonderful films he made. As thrillers go, it doesn't get any more entertaining than this. I rate this film 9/10.

This was a very intriguing movie, the dialogue between Silvia (Nicole Kidman) and Tobin (Sean Penn) was brilliant throughout. The story takes a very interesting angle at discussing the politics of genocide laden Africa, and a different look at race on the continent.It is a movie I would definitely recommend,I found it intelligent and unique. Nicole Kidman's use of her eyes brought a lot of emotion to the Silvia character, which spoke volumes at key points throughout the movie. There were a few points where I thought Sean Penn wasn't as emotional as someone in his shoes should have been, but that is the beauty of human nature, we all do cope differently.I gave it an 8.3/10 as I could connect with the story, the acting was above average, and the plot was different. A very well done film worth the view.

I found the movie not to be as good as the majority of the critics did. In my opinion it has many flaws, a lot of details in the plot are unclear and have remained so, and even the suspense could have been better. Worse of all, the ending is ridiculous and completely unbelievable.On the positive side, Kidman and Penn both perform very well and the chemistry between them is good. Also good is the plot in general openly inspired with the history and the present of Zimbabwe, and more precisely the story of Robert Mugabe. All in all, a little better than standard Hollywood fare, but nothing special.