The Interpreter

A political thriller with a rather weak start and an excellent second half. Nicole is beautiful, mysterious, and fully inhabits the role of a woman torn between extremes who has gone through the personal hell of losing her family, and Sean Penn plays the role of a not-so-ordinary secret agent in his own skillful way. Initially, I was expecting a much weaker picture, but I’m glad I was wrong. (26/09/2006)

Under different circumstances, this would be an absolutely solid thriller that kills the good premise by actually taking place in Nicole Kidmanʼs head and everyone else looks as if they were some extras. At the same time, you keep hoping that the movie will not be futile and will at least offer a solid set. But after watching, you realize that wasn’t really the case. Rather it will seem to you that the whole story actually selfishly took place on the sofa in Nicoleʼs flat. However, it deserves the fourth star for the final scene, which keeps you on tenterhooks, and mainly for Sean Penn. That’s mainly thanks to the finale which showed once again how great and honest actor he is. (24/12/2016)

I like Sydney Pollack. His pleasantly restrained direction, without quick cuts and wannabe cool shots (hello Tony Scott), lets the skill of the actors shine through (hello Clint Eastwood), but here he had a weaker moment. For a thriller it lacks suspense, as a political drama it's unconvincing and too slippery on the surface, and the melodramatic level is brought down by the chemistry between the two main protagonists, which has the sparkle of a burnt down Christmas light. The result is an unclear bit of tedium with one big logical lapse at the end. Still, a certain three stars, I quite like these old-fashioned thrillers, without fancy frills. (10/12/2005)

In this age of ultrahigh-tech, when every other movie is packed with computer effects, Sydney Pollack's The Interpreter feels pleasantly old-fashioned. In order to like the film, it is probably important to understand Pollack, or rather, to develop a taste for his directing style. The pace is just right, no frantic editing, no wild camera orgies. Simply put: old school. (05/06/2005)

Surprisingly, another film with Nicole Kidman, which I enjoyed. What was the previous one like? Probably too drawn-out "Australia". But in this case, it's not about her performance as an actress, but rather as an actress. Sean Penn is simply a badass who surprisingly manages to play a seasoned specialist in personal protection, who has serious family problems, or rather traumas from family life that haunt him. A fairly deep character, but presented quite shallowly script-wise, and its depth serves no purpose here. Too bad. More focus is on Nicole Kidman, who is an interpreter of an African language known by about eight people in America. As an interpreter, she happens to witness someone trying to kill someone else. The words are spoken in the language she understands. A bit too coincidental, but oh well. After all, this is Sydney Pollack. It is quite evident in the film that it had a competent director and it is gradually guided towards its end, I must say, quite good and acceptable. On the other hand, in my opinion, the theme of African dictators is not sufficiently explored. The film could have been much more gritty and less restrained in this regard. However, the plot does not only focus on the African dictator, whose rule is not perceived as humane and peaceful, but the main character remains the woman with the face of Nicole Kidman. Her feminine aspect, a woman who tries to defy her fate in order to gradually reveal her dark past, is quite interesting. On the other hand, even more space could have been devoted to other characters, especially Sean Penn's, whose protector is certainly not as pathetic as Costner's. You expect something to happen at the end of the film, just to leave with the feeling of a fairly well-executed work. But I still thought that it lacked a little more sensitivity, a little more emotion that would be transferred to the audience. The bus explosion, a very powerful scene, was simply a terrible event, but one that could be expected. Something had to escalate the plot. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2012/11/prada-tlumocnice-sveraci-kazajka.html (02/03/2013)