| Universal
Movie ••• Picture/Sound ••• Extras ••• |
This contemplative thriller from director Sydney Pollack never completely takes off, but it sure looks good trying. Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn come off more as movie stars than a UN interpreter and an FBI agent, respectively, but they keep their performances refreshingly low-key while sorting out a potential death threat to a visiting dignitary. The picture's rich detail and realistic color bring all the weight and mystery of the UN's hallowed halls to life. The 5.1-channel soundtrack is predictably hushed, but it rises to the occasion for the movie's few action sequences. Extras include a detail-oriented director's commentary, a lame alternate ending, and the usual making-of documentaries and deleted scenes. More interesting: a featurette on real-life UN interpreters and another in which Pollack makes an impassioned plea for widescreen DVDs. [PG-13] English, French, and Spanish, Dolby Digital 5.1; letterboxed (2.35:1) and anamorphic widescreen; dual layer.
