Interview (2007/I)

Director:

Steve Buscemi

Writers:

Steve Buscemi (screenplay)
Theodor Holman (original screenplay)

Release Date:

10 May 2007 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

Everything you say can and will be used against you

Plot:

After falling out with his editor, a fading political journalist is forced to interview America's most popular soap actress.

Plot Keywords:

Interview | Wound | Fender Bender | Secret | Loft

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Steve Buscemi	...	Pierre Peders
Sienna Miller	...	Katya
Michael Buscemi	...	Robert Peders
Tara Elders	...	Maggie
David Schechter	...	Maitre'd
Molly Griffith	...	Waitress
Elizabeth Bracco	...	Woman at Restaurant
James Villemaire	...	Man at Restaurant
Jackson Loo	...	Fan at Restaurant
Craig muMs Grant	...	Cab Driver (as muMs)
Doc Dougherty	...	Truck Driver
Donna Hanover	...	Commentator
Wayne Wilcox	...	Hunky Actor
Danny Schechter	...	Political Pundit
Philippe Vonlanthen	...	Autograph Seeker #1

Also Known As:

Untitled Steve Buscemi Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language including sexual references, and some drug use.

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA | Canada | Netherlands

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | USA:R | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | France:Unrated | Australia:MA | Ireland:16 | Taiwan:R-18 | Sweden:7 | South Korea:15 | Germany:12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Cinemavault Releasing

Trivia:

The main characters are named Pierre (Steve Buscemi) and Katya (Sienna Miller). In the original Dutch movie on which this remake was based, the main characters were also named Pierre and Katja, named after the actors portraying them (Pierre Bokma and Katja Schuurman respectively).

Goofs:

Continuity: In the last scene, when the camera turns, Katya doesn't wear the cardigan she just had on.

Quotes:

Katya: [answering his question] What makes a man attractive? A scar.
Pierre Peders: Why?
Katya: Because... most women have one too.

Movie Connections:

References "20/20" (1978)

Soundtrack:

Soul & Heart

It's good but...

It felt like it was half finished. I expect Buscemi was meant to be the villain of the piece but I ended up feeling far more sympathy for his character than I did for Sienna Miller's protagonist.

Maybe that was intentional but it left me feeling less than satisfied with the ending and at a running time of under 80 minutes, it felt like there could have been a lot more to the story. While I can appreciate films which leave you to fill in the blanks as you see fit - such as the otherwise completely dissimilar "The World According to Garp" - this film felt like it could have benefited from another half hour of story. Perhaps redemption of either character or revenge for/reversal of the trick Miller's character pulls on Buscemi's.

That said it was extremely well written and directed and the performances by both leads were pretty exceptional, hence a high score, but for the dissatisfaction I felt with the ending it would have been an 8 or even 9 out of 10 for me.