The Interpreter (2005)

Good grief.

The Interpreter goes off the rails - twice - in its last minutes.

How sad this is the last feature helmed by American director Sydney Pollack (Tootsie, Out of Africa). He made some fine films that will stand up well. The Interpreter is best forgotten.

This suspense film has potential.

Silvia Broome (Nicole Kidman) has experienced violence in the African country where she lived. She is an interpreter at the United Nations, the only place where she believes real change can happen.

Cue the first head-scratching scene, which becomes even odder when more becomes known later in the film.

Broome returns to work to pick up items she has forgotten - and hears a conversation of a planned assassination of the leader of the country where she once lived.

What's strange here is the United Nations building appears completely empty. Dark corridors, no staff around. Does no one clean this meeting place at night? Security guards keeping an eye on things? The timing is impeccable too for Broome to show up just as nefarious plans are being discussed.

Enter Tobin Keller (Sean Penn), the government agent assigned to probe what Broome reports what she heard. He's skeptical. There is, surprise, surprise, conflict when Broome and Keller meet for the first time.

Keller has just lost his wife. She was having an affair with a man. The pair died in a collision. Broome is mourning the loss of her family to violence back home.

Someone wants Broome dead. That seems a bit odd when she's already reported the planned killing to the authorities. What else is she going to do? Grab a gun and kill the perpetrators themselves?

There's a nice buildup of tension heading into the African leader's speech at the UN. What a shocker it is when a crazy plot twist left this movie fan slack-jawed. I thought the alternate ending offered on the DVD would offer a more plausible finale. No. Incredibly, it's even more far-fetched than the theatrical version.

The Interpreter is a good-looking film, but the late twists in its plot make it unbearable to watch.

RATING: 4/10


FUN FACTS: Earl Cameron, appearing here as Zawanie, was the Prince of Ardentia in Flash Gordon and Katanya in raiders of the lost ark. How many actors can claim to have "Death to Ming" on their resumes?

Absence of Malice (1981)

The Miami Herald wants a reporter this clueless as an editor?

That's about the biggest laugh I've had watching a film since that idiot Jar Jar Binks was made a diplomat in the dreadful Star Wars reboot.

Said reporter, Megan (Sally Field), doesn't have the brains to write for a big city paper. She also has no empathy for the persons she interviews for a story. Oh, and sleeping with the person she's writing stories on? Unbelievable. Said scribe should be punted out the door for all these breaches of duty.

Films dealing with reporters, especially print, always interest this film fan because I write for a daily newspaper.

A union boss is missing and there's no leads. Prosecutor Elliot Rosen (Bob Balaban) is desperate for some type of thread leading to who's responsible.

He finds a mark - Michael Gallagher (Paul Newman), a legitimate businessman who has family ties to organized crime. When reporter Megan drops by, he conveniently leaves a file pointing to Gallagher on his desk, then excuses himself shortly after Megan drops by for comment.

Why isn't Megan's editor McAdam (Josef Summer) asking more questions about the source of the story. Gallagher has no criminal record, except for slugging a federal agent at a family member's funeral. Most would cut hims some slack for prying eyes at such a time.

Gallagher's life is turned upside down when the story makes print. His workers are suspicious, then walk off the job at the suggestion he had something to do with the labour leader's disappearance. Here's where Absence of Malice works - showing how the innocent are affected when a newspaper messes up.

Gallagher's friend, Teresa (Melinda Dillon), can offer an alibi clearing him of any wrong-doing. But she's reluctant to go public with her support because she was doing, with Michael's help, something the Catholic Church has a major problem with. She works at a Catholic school. But Megan brushes aside those concerns with a chipper, 'hey it's 1981 now' attitude - completely out-of-touch with how this woman's life will be damaged by the revelation becoming public. Teresa doesn't agree with Megan's take on the situation. She doesn't to be named, but Megan proceeds.

This leads to another very hard-to-swallow aspect of this story. There's no romantic chemistry between Megan and McAdam, yet they end up bunking down even after he understandably freaks out for what her story did to Teresa's life.

Best part of this film is when Department of Justice rep Wells (Wilford Brimley) shows up. He's cheesed off at the stories he's reading - wondering what prompted the probe into Gallagher's life and what the prosecutor and district attorney are up to. Brimley is only on the screen for only about 15 minutes, but what a scene with his folksy, but tough manner. Great stuff!

Dillon shines in her supporting role. This is a woman who has issues. She earned an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress, as did Newman and Kurt Luedtke for best screenplay.

About that editing job - McAdam suggests - even with all Megan's mistakes on this major story, that she make the move from reporter to the desk. What? And get sued on a regular basis?

Newman made this film between Fort Apache The Bronx and The Verdict. Make The Verdict your viewing priority. It's a powerful work and one of his finest performances.

RATING: 7/10

FUN FACTS: Luedtke wrote scripts for three films Sydney Pollack directed - Out of Africa, Random Hearts and Absence of Malice.

Wilford Brimley, still alive at 80, made his debut in True Grit.

Bob Balaban went on to appear in several films with the This is Spinal Tap gang including Waiting for Guffman and A Mighty Wind.

Michael Clayton (2008)

Memo to Tony Gilroy, director of Michael Clayton


Dear Sir,


Thank you for giving hope to movie-goers over 18.


Michael Clayton is an honest-to-goodness drama/thriller with an outstanding cast. Not a gun was fired. Two explosions happened with no one nearby. Tony, you relied on great performances from a strong ensemble of actors. Bravo.


Yes, George Clooney did make Leatherheads and Solaris, but he's usually associated with very well-made films. One of his earlier efforts, Out of Sight, is still one of my all-time favourites. I could talk about Jennifer Lopez's subsequent mostly lousy movie choices, but that's another memo.


Tom Wilkinson is one of England's best, with past credits including The Full Monty and Batman Begins. As Arthur Edens, he's a "killer" lawyer who also has mental health issues. When he learns the company he's supposed to be representing is manufacturing a weed killer that kills people too, he switches sides. Arthur starts to collect paperwork that will incriminate U North.


Clooney is Michael Clayton, the firm's "special counsel" who's called in to fix up whatever miss clients find themselves in. He's described as "the keeper of the hidden sins."


He's in a bit of a jam himself. His salary isn't as high as the firm's partners enjoy. He likes to play high-stakes poker. A business venture has bottomed out and he owes a good chunk of change to lenders who take a very hands-on approach when money due is late.


But Clayton isn't the only janitor involved in this particularly messy case. Karen Crowder (Tilda Swinton) is lead consel for U North. She employs her own fixer uppers. Their methods are deadlier than the tactics Clayton employs. They keep tabs on Arthur and, with Crowder's consent, step up their efforts to keep him quiet.


Tony, you've penned scripts to some pretty impressive films including The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Ultimatum. You showed a strong dual effort with Michael Clayton, writing the script and making your directorial debut. Well done. Your work was definitely noticed with six Oscar nominations including a win for Swinton as best supporting actress. She does do a great job here as a woman who just received a big promotion and isn't quite sure how she's supposed to make a very major problem disappear.


There's an ominous tone running through most of Michael Clayton's two-hour running time. Clayton and Crowder have a powerful encounter at the film's conclusion.


Director Sydney Pollack appears in his second-last role as Arthur Edens, Clayton's boss and head of the law firm. He died in 2008, a year after this film's release.


Even a brief appearance by Denis O'Hare (The Proposal, J. Edgar) packs real punch. His character, Mr. Greer, is on edge after hitting a jogger. He's not impressed with Clayton's efforts to help him tidy up his particular mess. Austin Williams is sold as Henry, Clayton's son. Listen carefully to his explanation of a book he's reading at the film's start. His synopsis sets up what his dad is about to face.


Tony, keep up the good work. It's rare to find a film with brains and such great acting. Please, keep 'em coming.


RATING: 8.5/10