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Sydney Pollack has directed some memorable and impressive films (Tootsie, The Firm, Absence of Malice). And yet, moviegoers are still recovering from the disastrous Harrison Ford romance called Random Hearts. Pollack's new film The Interpreter falls somewhere in between, but it's closer to a "hit" than a "miss" amongst critics.

At the box office, it's a bona fide smash, topping the charts last week, largely due to the drawing power of its stars, Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn. Moreover, the thriller has built some significant buzz due to its unusual backdrop—the U.N.

Peter T. Chattaway (Christianity Today Movies) says, "The film is loaded with messages, some less subtle than others. The Interpreter is conflicted by its need to promote a message of international cooperation even as it delivers the blockbuster goods. If we were charitable, we might say that the film's climax captures the tension between justice and forgiveness; but given that the film is credited to no less than five writers, it's more probable that the cooks behind this particular broth just couldn't agree on what the point of it all is."

In her review, Annabelle Robertson (Crosswalk) reveals that she has worked for the U.N. "I know what a ridiculously incompetent organization it is. That its internal security officers are portrayed as being even remotely competent, when the U.N.'s international peacekeeping troops aren't allowed to fire their guns—even in the face of abject murder and mayhem—is laughable. And when country leaders who have committed mass genocide serve as heads of committees 'investigating' human rights violations—instead of being held accountable at The Hague for their crimes against humanity—it seems highly implausible that this organization is ever going to accomplish anything."

Regarding the film, she says, "Pollack is an excellent director … [but] while this film is mostly enjoyable, it lacks the heart-pounding drama a thriller should have. The script works, but it also lacks credulity on a number of levels."

Others were more impressed.

"Credibly written and superbly acted, The Interpreter is a taut thinking man's thriller," says Bob Smithouser (Plugged In). "Pollack has created a bustling head game that doesn't resort to pointless detours or red herrings that seem illogical upon reflection. In the end, everything makes sense—not just from a logistical, connect-the-plot-dots perspective, but from a human one."

Harry Forbes (Catholic News Service) writes, "If you can imagine The Man Who Knew Too Much, North by Northwest and The Manchurian Candidate rolled into one, you'll have a fair idea of what awaits you in The Interpreter, though the film is several notches below those distinguished forebears. Though the pacing is not consistently edge-of-your-seat variety, you won't be bored."

Michael Elliott (Movie Parables) says, "If it were easy to make an intelligent movie thriller, the world would be filled with them instead of the mindless, explosive-happy, stunt-heavy action pictures of which we are all too familiar. We can be thankful for … Pollack who excels in the genre. The movie is … helped by the setting in which it was filmed."

Mainstream critics are praising Pollack's direction as the finest aspect of the film.

Ashton Kutcher's popularity grew on the strength of That '70s Show, and increased further through his practical joke antics on MTV's Punk'd. Critics are wondering if his box office success is another sort of practical joke. Kutcher has another big screen hit in director Nigel Cole's comedy A Lot Like Love, which reviewers are describing as disposable and forgettable.

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April (Web-only) 2005, Vol. 49