--- title: "The Interpreter" year: 2005 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-interpreter" fi1m_id: "the-interpreter" imdb_id: "tt0373926" tmdb_id: 179 wikidata_id: "Q472313" fi1m_score: 62 critics_score: 54 critics_reviews: 10 published: "2026-10-05T04:09:00.908329+00:00" updated: "2026-10-05T04:09:01.656104+00:00" region: "IN" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Interpreter (2005) Directed by Sydney Pollack · 2h 08m · Crime, Thriller ## Identity The Interpreter - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-interpreter - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** the-interpreter - **IMDb ID:** tt0373926 - **TMDB ID:** 179 - **Wikidata ID:** Q472313 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373926/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/179, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q472313 **Fi1m score: 62** · Critics 54 from 10 reviews *In a sentence:* The United Nations has enough paperwork without a thriller that keeps requiring further clarification > Sydney Pollack makes a composed, watchable political thriller, helped by Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn. The tangled, unlikely plot keeps it from becoming as gripping or as substantial as its serious manner promises. ## Synopsis Silvia Broome (Nicole Kidman) and Tobin Keller (Sean Penn) are at the centre of political intrigue around the United Nations. Their relationship develops alongside a plot that also involves Dot Woods (Catherine Keener), Nils Lud (Jesper Christensen) and Philippe (Yvan Attal). Zuwanie (Earl Cameron) and Kuman-Kuman (George Harris) are among the other figures drawn into the story. Personal encounters between Silvia and Tobin alternate with political complications and sequences of suspense, as the film follows the pair through an increasingly tangled situation. ## Review *The Interpreter* is a decent choice for a patient thriller viewer, though patience receives more exercise than it should. Sydney Pollack treats political intrigue as something worth taking seriously, and the care is welcome. He gives Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn room to hold our attention without constantly forcing the pace. At 128 minutes, however, the film asks its performances to sustain interest through too much unlikely plotting. Nicole Kidman gives Silvia Broome the gravity the material needs, while Sean Penn’s Tobin Keller supplies a persuasive partner for the film’s more intimate business. Neither performance makes a fuss about its seriousness. We were touched by the tenderness of their quieter exchanges, where their interest in each other is allowed to matter. The relationship remains reserved, and it does not always provide enough warmth to carry the longer stretches of intrigue. Darius Khondji’s cinematography helps considerably. The United Nations setting has a composed, imposing look, and the director understands how much authority those surroundings can lend a conversation. Jon Hutman’s production design fits that sober approach, helping to make the official business feel credible. The setting gives scenes of people talking a scale they could not have in an anonymous office, and provides something worth looking at while the explanations continue. William Steinkamp’s editing keeps the strands manageable, but there is only so much cutting can do when each complication requires another stretch of explanation. The suspense works best when the director has a clear situation to manage. He can control a sequence without making it frantic, and there is pleasure in that confidence. The trouble comes when we stop enjoying the immediate tension and consider how much we have been asked to accept. The screenplay, credited to Charles Randolph, Scott Frank and Steven Zaillian, wants its political concerns to carry weight. Too often, though, the accumulating plot leaves too little room to examine them. We understand that the film means to take these matters seriously without finding much to think about afterwards. A political thriller need not offer solutions, but its ideas should survive beyond the next explanation of who is involved and why. James Newton Howard’s music supports the solemn tone, though that tone is already well supplied by the performances and the setting. A little less emphasis would have helped the film seem less pleased with its own importance. The director’s restraint with the actors is more useful, allowing the personal relationship to develop without demanding an immediate emotional response. Those passages keep the film watchable even when the larger story becomes difficult to credit. Against the demands of the political thriller, this is capable work held back by a story that does not justify its complexity. It has the performances and enough well-managed suspense to make a modest evening’s entertainment. Expecting much political insight, or plotting that withstands close inspection, is asking too much. For admirers of Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn, it is worth considering; anyone after a brisk thriller should look elsewhere. *Fi1m score 62, published 5 October 2026.* ## What the critics say The consensus is mixed: most critics find The Interpreter polished and capably acted, but less convincing as a political thriller than its serious manner promises. Praise centres on the performances of Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn, the cinematography and the use of United Nations locations. Sydney Pollack’s controlled direction also earns approval, particularly in the suspense sequences. Even several qualified reviews find it absorbing or enjoyable despite its plotting. Reservations cluster around implausibility, an overworked story and political ideas that remain vague or seem self-important. The leads divide opinion: Variety finds their chemistry lacking, while The AV Club singles out their relationship for praise. The spread runs from cautious approval to outright rejection, with The Guardian finding the film sluggish and short of suspense. Eye for Film likewise rejects the story as contrived and emotionally unconvincing, despite acknowledging the performances and occasional tenderness. ## Straight answers **Is The Interpreter worth watching?** *The Interpreter* is worth considering for patient thriller viewers and admirers of Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn; we score it 62 out of 100. Their restrained performances and some well-managed suspense keep it watchable, but the unlikely, tangled plot requires too much explanation for anyone wanting a brisk evening’s entertainment. **How long is The Interpreter, and what is it rated?** *The Interpreter* runs 2h 08m. It is a crime and thriller film. **Where can I watch The Interpreter in India?** *The Interpreter* is streaming on Netflix in India, and it is also available to rent from Apple TV from ₹129.00. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How violent or frightening is The Interpreter, and is it suitable for children?** *The Interpreter* carries a UK 15 certificate, making it unsuitable for children under 15. We find its suspense controlled rather than frantic, but that does not establish how graphic its violence is; the certificate is the clearest guide for parents assessing its suitability for younger teenagers. **How does The Interpreter compare to The Conversation?** *The Interpreter* is the weaker choice beside [*The Conversation*](https://film.one/film/the-conversation), which we recommend more confidently for its gripping suspense and affecting loneliness. Both make listening a source of unease, but *The Interpreter* spends too long explaining political complications; its chief attraction is the restrained interplay between Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn. **What should I watch after The Interpreter?** After *The Interpreter*, try [*The Conversation*](https://film.one/film/the-conversation) (1974, Fi1m 92): For another thriller that makes listening carefully a deeply uncomfortable occupation. Then [*The Lives of Others*](https://film.one/film/the-lives-of-others) (2006, Fi1m 84): Patient surveillance, compromised loyalties and performances that make the political stakes personal; and [*Z*](https://film.one/film/z) (1969, Fi1m 84): A more forceful political thriller, with anger beneath its procedural detail. ### Reviews we read (10) - **Variety**, Todd McCarthy (70/100, inferred): McCarthy finds the thriller coolly absorbing, though its plot-heavy story and lack of chemistry between the leads limit its impact. He praises the U.N. locations and Pollack’s polished direction. [Read](https://variety.com/2005/film/markets-festivals/the-interpreter-1200526851/) - **Empire**, Ian Nathan (65/100, inferred): Nathan finds the film solid, mature and finely acted, though its noble intentions sometimes make it daft. He particularly praises the bomb-on-a-bus sequence and Pollack’s controlled direction, while faulting the plot’s implausibilities. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/interpreter-review/) - **Screen Daily**, Fionnuala Halligan (64/100, inferred): The page identifies this as a review, but the paywall conceals the critic’s verdict. No specific praise or complaint is visible in the accessible text. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/the-interpreter/4022544.article) - **Time Out**, DC (64/100, inferred): The critic's verdict cannot be determined from the accessible page. No specific praise or complaint is available. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-interpreter) - **Slant Magazine**, Akiva Gottlieb (2.5/4): The review finds the film handsomely shot and entertaining but ultimately innocuous and predictable. It praises Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn for bringing gravitas to their roles. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-interpreter/) - **Radio Times**, Karen Krizanovich (3/5): Krizanovich finds the film an engrossing political thriller. She singles out its distinction as the first movie filmed inside United Nations headquarters. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-nvjm3d/the-interpreter/) - **Total Film**, Total Film (3/5): The critic finds the film polished and enjoyable, but often implausible and less important than it thinks. They praise its cinematography, exciting set-pieces, and the appeal of its lead performances. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-interpreter-review/) - **The AV Club**, Scott Tobias (55/100, inferred): Tobias finds the film skillfully made and performed, but hampered by vague themes and an overworked, implausible plot. He particularly praises the Kidman–Penn relationship, while faulting the political ideas for getting lost in the convoluted story. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/the-interpreter-1798200682) - **The Guardian**, Rob Mackie (15/100, inferred): Mackie finds the thriller ponderous, clichéd and far less engaging than its subject suggests. He particularly faults its sluggish pacing and says the real UN setting cannot make up for its lack of wit or suspense. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2005/aug/12/dvdreviews) - **Eye for Film**, Scott Macdonald (10/100, inferred): The critic pans the film as a shallow, contrived thriller lacking emotional truth. He praises the actors’ performances and the occasional tender moments, but says they cannot overcome the weak story. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-interpreter-film-review-by-scott-macdonald) ## Details - **Director:** Sydney Pollack - **Director:** Sydney Pollack - **Screenplay:** Charles Randolph, Scott Frank, Steven Zaillian - **Story:** Martin Stellman, Brian Ward - **Cinematography:** Darius Khondji - **Editor:** William Steinkamp - **Music:** James Newton Howard - **Production design:** Jon Hutman - **Costume design:** Sarah Edwards - **Producer:** Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Kevin Misher - **Cast:** Nicole Kidman as Silvia Broome; Sean Penn as Tobin Keller; Catherine Keener as Dot Woods; Jesper Christensen as Nils Lud; Yvan Attal as Philippe; Earl Cameron as Zuwanie; George Harris as Kuman-Kuman; Michael Wright as Marcus - **Runtime:** 2h 08m - **First release (Australia):** 4 April 2005 - **Genres:** Crime, Thriller - **Budget:** $80 million - **Box office:** $163 million ## Where to watch in India - Netflix: streaming - Apple TV: rent ₹129.00, hd - Apple TV: buy ₹399.00, sd *Checked 2026-10-05.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, AZ, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *The Conversation* (1974), Fi1m 92: For another thriller that makes listening carefully a deeply uncomfortable occupation. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-conversation.md) - *The Lives of Others* (2006), Fi1m 84: Patient surveillance, compromised loyalties and performances that make the political stakes personal. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-lives-of-others.md) - *Z* (1969), Fi1m 84: A more forceful political thriller, with anger beneath its procedural detail. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/z.md) - *Official Secrets* (2019), Fi1m 65: Another serious account of institutions, suspicion and the cost of speaking plainly. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/official-secrets.md) - *The Secret in Their Eyes* (2009), Fi1m 78: For a criminal investigation in which the unresolved feelings matter as much. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-secret-in-their-eyes.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-interpreter