The Interpreter

Name: The Interpreter
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released: April 22, 2005
Duration: 128 min
Rating: 62
Cast: Catherine Keener, Nicole Kidman, Sean Penn

2005

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 41 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 104 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 104 Ratings

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The Interpreter

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: April 22, 2005 | PG-13

Starring: Catherine Keener, Nicole Kidman, Sean Penn

Summary: A suspenseful thriller of international intrigue set inside the political corridors of the United Nations and on the streets of New York. (Universal)

Director: Sydney Pollack

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 128 min

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Critic Reviews

William Arnold

Very much a '70s-style paranoid thriller, with a mood, tone and cascade of plot twists that are highly reminiscent of his 1975 classic, "Three Days of the Condor." Read full review

James Berardinelli

A cut above the average politically-based thriller. Read full review

Peter Travers

The Interpreter bristles with the smart, steadily engrossing tension that marked such 1970s goodies as "All the President's Men," "The Parallax View" and Pollack's own "Three Days of the Condor." Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

The Interpreter is ultimately fluent in many things, but an out-and-out thriller it is not. Read full review

Empire Ian Nathan

Solid, mature and finely acted, but intermittently daft. Read full review

Ella Taylor

When it comes to the United Nations, though, the movie turns to Jell-O. Whether Pollack was softened up by his meetings with U.N. brass (all the way up to Kofi Annan), or by his own gentlemanly Midwestern liberalism, he is alarmingly circumspect about that august body. Read full review

Stanley Kauffmann

The director, Sydney Pollack, who appears briefly in the film, has done his experienced best with this Scotch-taped script. But his two stars are insuperable handicaps. Read full review

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User Reviews

stanleyh.

Oct 27, 2005

Excellent job,very good performance by nicole kidman and sean penn.worth every penny to watch.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

Syd.B.

Sep 28, 2005

God bless Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn for giving performances that should get them oscar nominations but prob wont happen since this was released WAY to early..anyway i loved this movie and will be buying the DVD when it comes out...with this and The Constant Gardener, thrilers seem to God bless Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn for giving performances that should get them oscar nominations but prob wont happen since this was released WAY to early..anyway i loved this movie and will be buying the DVD when it comes out...with this and The Constant Gardener, thrilers seem to becoming good again.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

alejandro970

Jun 18, 2021

As a political thriller it works quite well and it is largely thanks to the cast and a plot that is careful not to leave any loose ends. The last 30 minutes are the ones that take the palms for the handling of the suspense.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

bjd.

Nov 4, 2005

Held my interest. At time it was difficult to understand the characters accent, including Kidman. Sean Penn was great, as usual. Some parts of the movie didn't come together for us, but overall it's worth seeing. And there is violence but most of it is quite subtle.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

beingryanjude

Aug 27, 2014

A fascinating look at how different worlds collide. Nicole Kidman is daring and bold. The Interpreter is reflective of similar films of this nature; however, uses fresh concepts surrounding the United Nations and rebellion.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

eTurkey

Aug 11, 2012

'The Interpreter' is just simply not thrilling. That's quite a shame considering the film in question is a "thriller". Regardless, one of the final movies directed by Sydney Pollack does have its moments, with Catherine Keener a standout in her supporting role. Regrettably the two lead'The Interpreter' is just simply not thrilling. That's quite a shame considering the film in question is a "thriller". Regardless, one of the final movies directed by Sydney Pollack does have its moments, with Catherine Keener a standout in her supporting role. Regrettably the two lead actors aren't as exciting. Sean Penn seems to do a decent job playing a rather dull and lifeless Secret Service agent and Nicole Kidman doesn't exactly light the world on fire with her South African accent. The filming locations are real, which is something at least.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

TheDirtyOne

Apr 25, 2005

Holes big enough to drive a Mack truck through. Honestly one of the worst movies I have ever seen, as it falls apart within the first 10 minutes. Two guys talking about an assasination attempt in the freaking U.N. assembly room??? GREAT idea! Yeah, that's a safe bet! And how the hell Holes big enough to drive a Mack truck through. Honestly one of the worst movies I have ever seen, as it falls apart within the first 10 minutes. Two guys talking about an assasination attempt in the freaking U.N. assembly room??? GREAT idea! Yeah, that's a safe bet! And how the hell did they have access to the building after hours anyway? And why were the mics turned on so Nicole Kidman can hear what they are saying? Very well thought out! These two must be master assasins. Best is the end, though. There is an assasination attempt on this dude speaking at the UN so the place goes bananas, he's rushed away by bodyguards like it' the end of the world but of course [Ed: Spoiler omitted....] Brilliant! Piece of crap.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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