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Actors: Nicole Kidman, Sean Penn
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Interpreter |
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Sydney Pollack (Out of Africa, Tootsie) directed THE INTERPRETER in 2004.
Silvia Broome, an interpreter working for the U.N., overhears perchance a conversation between two persons in the main conference room of the U.N. building in NYC. According to what she could understand, President Zuwanie of Matobo will be killed during his next speech in front of the UN assembly. Agent Tobin Keller is charged to check Silvia's assertions. At first skeptical, Keller will change his mind when someone enters Silvia's apartment and frightens her. During the next three day, Keller will try to find out who intends to assassinate Zuwanie and how the killer plans to do it.
--Daniel Staebler, Resident Scholar
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The Interpreter
Directed by Sydney Pollack, 2005
Staring Nicole Kidman, Sean Penn
The (fictitious) African nation of Matobo is in turmoil as rival factions attempt to overthrow the despotic government led by Dr. Zuwanie (Earl Cameron). Reports of widespread torture and genocide by Dr. Zuwanie's government have come to the attention of the U.N. which is debating whether to order that Dr. Zuwanie be tried before the International Tribunal in the Hague. As the U.N. struggles with what to do about the Matobo problem one of the interpreters, Sylvia Broome (Nicole Kidman) overhears part of a whispered conversation about a plot to assassinate Dr. Zuwanie when he appears before the General Assembly to defend his government.
Broome is a citizen of both Matobo and the U.S. since she was born in the U.S. when her parents were temporarily residing here. Sylvia's parents were among the many people of European descent living in Africa at the end of the colonial era who elected to remain in their homeland as citizens of the new African nations.
When Broome reports the conversation she overheard to her superiors at the U.N. they contact the U.S. Secret Service's foreign dignitary protection division for help. Agent Tobin Keller (Sean Penn) is assigned to interview Broome. While initially doubting her story, events soon force Keller to believe her. But Broome proves to be a very private and complex person. Currently a professed idealist and pacifist, she is also a former member of a revolutionary group seeking to overthrow Zuwanie. Further, her parents and younger sister were killed when the car they were driving hit a land mine set by Zuwanie's troops and her estranged brother is a member of one of the rebel groups opposing Zuwanie.
Kidman and Penn provide thought provoking performances of individuals caught up in both their own personal problems and conflicting loyalties in a divided world.
--Chuck Nugent, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of The Interpreter |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie
Actual chase scenes or violence - 10%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 60%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Time/Era of Movie:
- present (2000-2010)
Spying & Terrorists
Yes
Cloak & Dagger Plotlets:
- finding an assassin
The terrorist enemy is...
- terrorist group
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- govt employee
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- blonde
Hair style
- long, straight (woman)
Body type
- skinny (woman)
Events of movie makes character more...
- cynical
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
- (man) short/standard wavy
Body type
- average build (man)
How much in movie?
- 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- dictator
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 20%
Hair color
- bald
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) bald
Body type
- average (man)
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Black
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
City?
Yes
City:
- New York
Misc setting
- building
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately messy visuals of dead
- gory visuals of deaths
Movie makes you feel...
- concerned
- depressed/sad
How many deaths in film?
- dozens
How much use of techno gadgets?
- 1 (None)
Kind of violence:
- guns
Unusual forms of death
- perforation--bullets
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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