The Interpreter

PG-13

Released Apr 22, 2005

2 hr. 3 min.

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

List

58%

193 Reviews

Tomatometer

54%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Interpreter Silvia Broome (Nicole Kidman) is at the United Nations when she overhears what she believes is a plan to assassinate the president of Matobo, Edmond Zuwanie (Earl Cameron). When she alerts the authorities, Secret Service agents Tobin Keller (Sean Penn) and Dot Woods (Catherine Keener) are assigned to the case. It's not long before they decide that Silvia herself is a suspect, having formerly been involved with both a guerrilla group in Matobo and the president's chief opponent.

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Critics Consensus

A polished and intelligent thriller, though marred by plot implausibilities.

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David R

Two brilliant actors in a cluttered plot.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/23/23

Full Review

John M

Well acted, but implausible. Seeing the would-be pseudo-assassin stationed up above has been done-to-death, yet nobody ever expects to consider it until the final mad dash.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/11/23

Full Review

jacek j

Very nice thriller. Well written, played and executed. I wish "critics" would not diminish their own credibility by reviewing it based on politics than rather based on entertainment value... this is a must see classic.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/10/23

Full Review

Jonathan G

This was a solid, well scripted, well acted, well directed tense thriller. I have no idea why the scores are so low, I even remember it being well received, not godfather levels, but still, a solid thriller.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/01/23

Full Review

tanivea S

was not expecting nicole kidman (i love her) character to be so close to what was happening this was amazing

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/18/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Thriller piuttosto interessante perchè riesce ad evolversi intorno ad un solo e semplice evento come un possibile futuro omicidio; costruendo da lì una storia complessa, con diversi personaggi e con un finale abbastanza coperto per la maggior parte del film. I punti più deboli sono rappresentati dall'avvenimento che fa partire il presunto complotto, abbastanza forzato e dal personaggio di Sean Penn, noioso alla morte e ancor più scontato; vista la natura piuttosto pesante del film, sarebbe servito un poliziotto agli antipodi per dare un tocco di freschezza.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

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Sydney Pollack

Director

Nicole Kidman

Silvia Broome

Sean Penn

Tobin Keller

Catherine Keener

Dot Woods

Jesper Christensen

Nils Lud

Yvan Attal

Philippe

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The Interpreter: Official Clip - Voices and Faces

3:12

The Interpreter: Official Clip - We Don't Name The Dead

3:32

The Interpreter: Official Clip - International Incident

2:38

The Interpreter: Official Clip - The Shower Assassin

2:16

The Interpreter: Official Clip - Masked Man

2:29

The Interpreter: Official Clip - I'd Let Him Drown

1:47

The Interpreter: Official Clip - Silvia's Story

3:00

The Interpreter: Official Clip - Bus Bomb

3:37

The Interpreter: Official Clip - Sniper at the U.N.

3:54

The Interpreter: Official Clip - Put the Gun Down

2:14

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Ken Tucker

New York Magazine/Vulture

Penn is terrific in his low-key doggedness.

May 12, 2006

Full Review

Ian Nathan

Empire Magazine

Solid, mature and finely acted, but intermittently daft.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 1, 2006

Full Review

Dave Calhoun

Time Out

This is largely a competent, successful thriller, but observing global politics from this perspective is an uncomfortable, frustrating experience.

Feb 9, 2006

Full Review

Micheal Compton

Bowling Green Daily News

Despite a script that at times seems a little too pretentious, The Interpreter benefits from strong work by Academy Award winners Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn and a great sequence that is as tense as any in recent memory.

Nov 18, 2019

Full Review

Joshua Starnes

ComingSoon.net

As a character drama about dealing with violence and loss, The Interpreter is a quiet success. Unfortunately, it's a thriller, and all of the qualities that make it a successful character study rob it of the tension a thriller needs to succeed.

Rated: 5/10

Mar 27, 2011

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Much ballyhooed for its on-location filming in and around the United Nations building in Manhattan "The Interpreter" works better as a captivating drama than it does as an espionage thriller due to some sticking plot points that prevent the audience from

Rated: B

Apr 18, 2009

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Interpreter Silvia Broome (Nicole Kidman) is at the United Nations when she overhears what she believes is a plan to assassinate the president of Matobo, Edmond Zuwanie (Earl Cameron). When she alerts the authorities, Secret Service agents Tobin Keller (Sean Penn) and Dot Woods (Catherine Keener) are assigned to the case. It's not long before they decide that Silvia herself is a suspect, having formerly been involved with both a guerrilla group in Matobo and the president's chief opponent.

Director: Sydney Pollack
Executive Producer: Liza Chasin, Eric Fellner
Screenwriter: Charles Randolph
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Working Title Films, Misher Films
Rating: PG-13 (Some Sexual Content|Brief Strong Language|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 22, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $72.5M
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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