"Interview" *** 1\2 (out of ****)Steve Buscemi is quite an actor. If you look over his list of credits you will notice a wide range of films he has appeared in. You have the Coen Brothers' "Miller Crossing" and "Fargo", voice over work for "Monsters, Inc", "Ghost World", "Armageddon", "Pulp Fiction" and "Big Daddy". Who else has appeared in such diverse films?
"Interview" also puts Buscemi in the director's chair. He has mostly done TV work including "The Sopranos".
The film is a remake of a Dutch film directed by Theo van Gogh, which had the same title. It was part of a suppose trilogy of American remakes Gogh was going to work on, but, after a sudden death, Buscemi took over directing duties.
I find it odd the first film I should review after the death of Tim Russert be called "Interview". Where Russert was a brilliant interviewer here is a film about everything you should not do when conducting an interview.
The film has Buscemi playing Pierre Peders. Pierre wants to cover the political beat. A scandal has broken out, in what I believe is the Bush administration, though I can't remember his name said. His editor instead assigns him to the entertainment beat where he is suppose to interview Katya (Sienna Miller). The latest hot young actress who is known for her activities off the movie set rather than her acting.
Pierre resents every minute of it, and doesn't even bother to do research before the interview, for which Katya is an hour late. As soon as they do meet however it is clear they do not like each other. Pierre doesn't like what Katya represents, a culture in decline, obsessed with unimportant things such as who she is sleeping with. And Katya doesn't like Pierre because he doesn't seem interested and impressed with her.
The rest of "Interview" follows their night together as Pierre attempts to get his interview with Katya, when the two aren't at each other's throats.
The structure of the film reminds me of "Before Sunset" and "Before Sunrise". We are just placed in the middle of these characters worlds and, depending how you feel about the film, leave it all too soon. It seems to end without any sense of conclusion. At least not a conclusion most will be happy with. But it gives the viewer something to think about. And because we like these characters and become involved with them, we want to know more.
"Interview" may not seem to be doing much but what I love most about this film is the dialogue. Which was originally written by Theodor Holman and adapted by Buscemi. It has such rapid, wise-cracking exchanges. It reminds me of the screwball comedies of the 1930s and 1940s. The two characters are equals. Katya insults Pierre just as much as he insults her. Pierre doesn't hold back just because she is a woman. That makes no difference to him.
This aspect of the film however makes me think of "Two Girls and A Guy" with Heather Graham and Robert Downey Jr. There was a film where everyone had a poker face on. Here with "Interview" it is the same. We can never tells when the characters are telling the truth and when they are lying. What is going on in their heads? Is there ever a sincere moment in the film? This also gives "Interview" its appeal.
For as entertaining as Buscemi is in this film it was Miller who impressed me most. I have only seen the actress in "Layer Cake" with Daniel Craig. I don't remember that film very well and remember even less of her performance. Here though Miller really makes a lasting impression. This film presents such opportunities for her to display her acting range. She can play sassy, vulnerable, sexy and dramatic, all in one part!
Will some be bothered by this film? I'm sure of it. Why does it end the way it does? What does it all mean? I don't have the answers to these questions. But I had such a good time watching the movie and watching the performances given by Buscemi and Miller, I said to myself it really doesn't matter. What these characters do to each other isn't as important as how they do it to each other. That's what makes the movie.
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