The Interpreter
For any other man, dealing with the death of a spouse can take weeks, months, or even years to recover from. Not Tobin Keller (Sean Penn). He's back on the job after only two weeks. In many respects, he has to come back. He's on the Secret Service protecting visiting foreign dignataries. The latest to visit is Edmund Zuwanie, the President of Motobo accused of crimes against humanity who has come to the United Nations in order to defend himself. But days prior to his visit, an interpreter named Sylvia Broome (Nicole Kidman) claims to have overheard a plot to assassinate Zuwanie. But the more Keller delves into her story, the more questions that come up including those about her African past and those having to gain from a possible murder.

The Interpreter is the type of movie everyone should be making. A simple, cliched plotline (an assassination attempt) set against the backdrop of an unknown and complex locale (the United Nations) brings about many creative ideas. Indeed, this is so on the camera side since director Sydney Pollack got permission to shoot at the United Nations, the first time any movie has shot there. New York City also figures prominently and shows itself off well. However, the storytelling could have used some work. If you go in without watching the 2-minute trailer, you might have been fine but the first hour and a half could be neatly summarized in the trailer and you could have gone straight to the ending. It may not be apparent at first, but the whole ending is revealed in the first 20 minutes...just gotta connect the dots. The climax, with a few minor plotholes, is excellent but if I have to watch Penn become teary-eyed and emotional again, I'll hurl. Honest. 3 stars