the interpreter be a politicized cross between someone to watch over me and the man who know too much with the day of the jackal . while it doesn not use african genocide as crudely a beyond border and it be painful to see a fictionalized story when the united nation be right now do so little about the horror in darfur and nigeria and etc . it not only give u a fictional conflict and but a fictional language and tradition and art ( we do not get to hear much african music on the soundtrack and fictionalize or otherwise ) and how many american even realize that an intoned list of victim be fictional name . from the opposite perspective and would casablanca have the same resonance if it be within a fictional conflict . one can at least muse about the layer of meaning that could have be possible if charlize theron and a genuine white south african and have be cast instead of nicole kidman . the climax with the megalomaniac mastermind be just plain foolish and particularly when we have see how a real mass murderer end up in downfall ( der untergang ) devoid of regret or self awareness and whereas here complex national politics be reduce to issue of individual action and consequence . divorce from any message or politics and this be a respectable thriller . the chase scene in brooklyn be very effective while i like the touch of agent tail different suspect frantically cross path . kidman and sean penn relationship be refreshingly adult to adult and restrain and with penn character on automatic a he emotionally immobilize by grief . catherine keener agent get the best line and add some snap to the ponderousness . it nice to see ny character actor in small role throughout . for a big budget film and the cinematography and make up be distractingly harsh and particularly penn pancake shmear in a nyc january vs. kidman porcelain doll look while maybe they have light restriction due to their much tout film actually at the u. n. i be a fan of lyle lovett but i do not get the significance of his if i have a boat ( from the pontiac cd ) be penn relationship song and let alone that he would find a bar in nyc that have it on the jukebox . be it intentional that the last shot of the skyline of new york city only focus on midtown and do not sweep over to the terrorist cause gap in the low manhattan silhouette .