Interview

Reviewed by:
Pete Hammond

Interview is an absolutely fascinating little film that pits a grizzled political reporter (Steve Buscemi) against America's top soap star (Sienna Miller) in a battle of wits and tits as the two go after each other when he reluctantly accepts an assignment to do a story on her. Problem is, he couldn't care less about doing it, and it's only made worse when she arrives an hour late for their restaurant meeting. Being a savvy, experienced celebrity, she spots his disinterest right away and bolts. Happenstance and a taxicab accident bring them back together at her place, where what started out as a simple fluffy interview turns into mind-game warfare between two strangers who manage nevertheless to get up each other's ass very quickly. Although both appear to be polar opposites, details begin to emerge on each side that soon draw them together in unexpected ways, sexually, violently, and intellectually. He isn't completely the cool, jaded journalist he appears to be at first, and she isn't the trouble-free TV star out for some free publicity that she appears to be. Or are they? It's a constant guessing game for the audience. And Buscemi, who cowrote and directed this film (based on a Dutch film), keeps the suspense high as we wonder if these two are going to wind up killing each other before the night is through. Truths—and lies—are revealed, and the fun is in getting there. You won't be able to take your eyes off the screen as this terrific psychological game of cat and mouse between two intriguing people with a past unfolds. Both Buscemi and Miller give tour de force performances that rank with the best of the year. In fact, the movie is worth 10 bucks just to see the incredibly sexy Sienna burn up the screen with raw sensual star power. She's hot.