For someone who loves movies as passionately as I do, embarking on long flights poses particular risks. Frequently I am offered movies that I would never leave my house for. But when a movie flickers a few inches before my nose, it is difficult to resist the temptation of glancing up and of seeing whatever the airline has selected.  Even when I have heard that the film is no good it is almost impossible to so “no.” This is how I came to see large portions of the horrible recent flick Monster-in-Law with Jane Fonda & Jennifer Lopez. On the same flight I wasted another 2 hours on In Good Company, a film that had an interesting hook (in the wake of a hostile takeover a young 26-year-old who knows nothing about the business becomes the boss of a demoted 52 year manager) but fizzled away in banal dialogs. On my most recent trip, I saw against my wishes The Interpreter, which was rightfully trashed by serious movie critics. Having just watched the first season of the fabulous TV show 24, The Interpreter seemed especially weak. Both start with a similar plotline:  the police wants to prevent the assassination of an important politician. Where 24 succeeds admirably in creating suspenseful drama and believable characters that keep our interest, The Interpreter has nothing to offer. The director of The Interpreter, Sydney Pollack, seems to have looked for an excuse to give you an architectural tour of UN buildings in New York and remind you that the idea behind the UN is a noble one. If you want to experience a fantastic cinematographic event, watch 24.

which was rightfully trashed by serious movie critics. Having just watched the first season of the fabulous TV show 24, The Interpreter seemed especially weak. Both start with a similar plot line:  the police wants to prevent an assassination of important politician. Where 24 succeeds admirably in creating suspenseful drama and believable characters that keep our interest, The Interpreter has nothing to offer. The director of The Interpreter, Sydney Pollack, seems to have looked for an excuse to give you a architectural tour of UN buidlings in New York and remind you that the idea behind the UN is a noble one. If you want to have experience a fantastic cinematographic event, watch 24.