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MOVIE REVIEW Language matters in ‘Interpreter’ “The Interpreter” Starring Nicole Kidman, Sean Penn ★★★★ out of ☆☆☆☆☆ By JENNIFER FREEMAN THE MIX EDITOR Sydney Pollack’s “The Interpreter” is one of those rare, intellectually stimulating films. There are no awkward surprise twists that forcibly keep the plot moving, it doesn’t try to dumb down the subject matter and it isn’t so complex the audience never understands what happens. In this political thriller, Nicole Kidman plays a United Nations interpreter, and Sean Penn is a Secret Service agent. Staying away from the traditional formula, these two lead characters never have sex — they’re too busy trying to prevent high-profile political assassinations and keep themselves alive. While they never consummate the relationship, Kidman and Penn have an amazing chemistry that helps keep the plot moving. Penn is appropriately brooding as the Secret Service agent trying to do his job while battling inner demons. Kidman helps him in this struggle as she reveals layers to her character in every scene. They build a connection to each other based on grief that adds more depth to the political conspiracy. As for the political storyline, an air of credibility is lent to the movie with the backdrop of the United Nations. Filmed on location in and around the United Nations, it is the first movie to be allowed to film inside the General Assembly room. The storyline doesn’t detail the procedural elements of U.N. security or the Secret Service — it just comes naturally, making you feel like you could be watching a documentary rather than a Hollywood blockbuster. The premise of the story is that Silvia Broome (Kidman) overhears a whispered conversation at work after hours. Luckily, she is one of few people who can understand this conversation, as it was spoken in an African dialect, and later discovers she overheard an assassination plan. She reports the conversation to the Secret Service, but instead of being believed, Agent Keller’s (Penn) reaction is, “She’s lying.” Keller and his partner Woods have reason to doubt her, as secrets to ner pasi icvcdi uo 10 me piaycia m this political drama. This death threat is against an African dictator named Zuwanie. He was once hailed as a liberator but is now being accused of genocide. He wants to address the General Assembly to defend his policies and prevent a trial for “crimes against humanity.” And it just so happens Broome was raised in Matobo and saw her family killed because of Zuwanie. These unfolding layers to Kidman’s character keep the storyline moving as more connections and secrets are revealed. Eventually the secrets come out and the ties linking everyone are unraveled, but the journey up to that point is everything a good thriller should be. The plot twists aren’t cheesy or confusing, the suspense keeps building as smaller issues are resolved and you don’t know “whodunit” until the very end. Or more accurately, the audience can probably accurately guess who is coordinating the scheme, but you are never quite sure who is working for whom or who the hired gunmen will be. The best part of this film is the way it enters this world completely and gets all the details. Pollack doesn’t spell out the way the U.N. interpreters work or the way the Secret Service coordinates an investigation, but rather lets dialogue and the film’s action explain itself because it is like the actors really are living the story. Dialogue becomes more important than action and explosions, another quality that makes it a good thriller. More than once in the film the exact words and meanings used are brought into sharp focus. As an interpreter, Broome is especially specific. In this story of a controversial political figure, more than one person wants Zuwanie dead, and more than one person wants him gone. The difference between “dead” and “gone” is the key to this political thriller. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc. edu PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK Nicole Kidman plays Silvia Broome, a United Nations interpreter who discovers an assassination plot in Sydney Pollack’s new thriller. Five-second rule: Speed makes it safe By ESTHER LANDHUIS KRT CAMPUS SAN JOSE, Calif. — Having skipped lunch, you’re devouring a bag of Doritos between afternoon classes when the last chip tumbles to the floor. Do you chomp it or chuck it? Quick! You’ve got only a few seconds to decide. That is, if you follow the “five second rule” — a piece of folk wisdom that says it’s OK to eat food off the ground as long as it’s salvaged within five seconds. Even those of us who religiously buy organic, cook from scratch and scorn fast food are among the legions who occasionally invoke the rule. And most moms can handily snatch a tidy morsel off the floor in less than five seconds. “We use the five-second rule all the time unless the surface is really dirty,” said Amy Polcyn, a San Jose, Calif., mother with three children 6 and younger. “If the kids drop food in a public restroom, there’s no way they’re going to eat it — I don’t care how short it was on the floor — but if they drop it at home, not a big deal. Pick it up and eat it.” But are you risking your health ♦ Please see RULE, page 12 JSfew Music for the week of April 25 “Devils & Dust” Bruce Springsteen “Waitingfor the Sirens Call” New Order “BlinkingLights and... ” j Eels “Live From The Golden Nugget" Frank Sinatra “Songs For Silverman” Ben Folds "Dead Wing" Porcupine Tree “Touch” Amerie tamity (Juy Live in Las Vegas \J Original Soundtrack of*.COLUMBIA FILM SOCIKTY Th* Original gourmet Sandwich Shop fawtto — Slue Tile Shale Shop &v?£?eoMs/ COFFEE COMPANY California Chicken grill