A pair of Oscar winners get lost in the U.N.

The Interpreter was number one at the weekend box office, probably because it's the first actual adult oriented movie from Hollywood so far this year (gee, it's only April). It even managed to set career best opening weekend records for stars Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn.

Yet the movie itself is another mostly "so what?" affair from director Sydney Pollack. It's a bit of a shame that such a cinematically important teaming of two Oscar-winning actors-for-the-ages is wasted on a fairly forgettable thriller.

The film does provide some good twists and a few mildly successful suspense sequences (unfortunately mostly already spoiled by the trailer). But just as it appears on paper, The Interpreter is most notable for its stars.

Kidman and Penn both acquit themselves well, although overall her character is more interesting than his. This is most troubling early on, when Penn's stature as an Important Actor threatens to render his seemingly stock law enforcement character entirely irrelevant. But then the script slowly reveals the character's deep pain and the actor's talents are put to good use. The film still feels like an odd, and uncommonly commercial, choice for such a traditionally uncompromising actor.

As for Kidman, she once again proves herself ready for anything and a much stronger presence on film than her fragile features might suggest. But, probably more importantly, this is one more notch in her eclectic career belt (it's not even necessary to see the films to know there's something impressive about an actress who takes the leads in Birth, Dogville and The Stepford Wives all in one year and then The Interpreter and Bewitched the next; Halle Berry take note).

The pair have most of their big scenes together, so it's difficult to say whether or not they're actually at their best working opposite each other or that's simply when the script gives them the best material to work with. Either way the film is most interesting when they share the screen. Even though their relationship is not intended to be romantic they develop a genuine chemistry.

(It's worth mentioning that there's another important actress along for the ride. Catherine Keener plays Sean Penn's partner and that's all there is to say about her. The quirky and usually compelling actress is straight-jacketed in a role that goes nowhere. This truly is a two person show all the way.)

Beyond its leads, The Interpreter is also notable as the first film allowed to shoot inside the U.N. The setting looks nice on film but it also recalls a famous thriller that had to secure its U.N. footage in a sneaky way, North By Northwest. That movie had two traits that might have helped The Interpreter feel a little more vital: a sense of a humor and sex appeal.

In his indispensable New Biographical Dictionary of Film, David Thomson has this to say about Pollack's 1975 film Three Days of the Condor (starring Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway): "a tortuous spy film, heavy with stars but unnecessary and unconvinced." Thirty years later, and Pollack hasn't progressed much as a serious filmmaker.

Still the movie is passable entertainment for adults, which actually makes it somewhat unique among contemporary Hollywood films. And its savvy casting will keep it of interest for years to come.