Interview (2007 film)

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Interview

Directed by	Steve Buscemi
Produced by	Gijs van de Westelaken Bruce Weiss
Written by	Theodor Holman
Starring	Steve Buscemi Sienna Miller
Release date(s)	2007
Country	United States
Language	English
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IMDb profile

Interview is a remake of Dutch film maker Theo van Gogh's 2003 movie of the same title. The American version, which premiered in 2007, stars Steve Buscemi as Pierre Peders (originally played by Pierre Bokma), who is a fading political journalist. As his editor is taking him less seriously he is forced to interview a soap opera star, Katya, played by Sienna Miller (originally played by Katja Schuurman). This film also stars Tara Elders as Maggie, Molly Griffith as a waitress, and Philippe Vonlanthen who plays an autograph seeker. Steve Buscemi is also a producer of this American adaptation.

[edit] Plot

Pierre Peders (Steve Buscemi) is a steel-tough political correspondent infuriated by his editor's decision to hogtie him to a tabloid-level story about the seemingly-vapid actress and blonde paparazzi goddess Katya (Sienna Miller). Pierre's chagrin doubles given the news of a searing White House scandal that is just breaking; instead of covering the piece, Peders must visit a posh Manhattan restaurant and interview Katya - someone he instantly detests. The one-on-one is more of a disaster than either could have predicted, but by some strange twist of fate, Pierre is injured and brought back to Katya's loft. Once there, liquor is downed, coke is consumed, minor violence erupts, and the two begin to "dance a pas de deux" - attempting, not so subtly, to out-maneuver one another psychologically, as dark secrets and long-hidden vulnerabilities emerge.

Katya teases Peders into kissing her, which Peders passionately does, but as her cell phone rings and reality reasserts itself, Katya demands that he stop. Peders is exasperated and complains that she doesn't let him finish what she starts, unlike the male prostitute he once visited. During another of Katya's phone calls, Peders uses Katya's laptop and opens a folder containing what he believes is Katya's diary. He is able to barely conceal his surprise when Katya eyes him suspiciously, by saying he is merely Googling her, as per an earlier suggestion by her.

When Katya's attention returns to her phone call, Peders e-mails a particularly expressive and emotional diary passage to himself. Later, unable to forget what he had read, Peders betrays his snooping by asking Katya what has made her lose hope. After an emotional outburst about her loss of privacy, she admits that she has cancer. At this, Peders is immediately contrite about the way he has been treating her. He learns that no one knows about Katya's illness; she feels that saying it aloud will make it more "real". Peders promises not to reveal the truth about her health; Katya demands that Peders reveal something about himself in return.

As Katya films the confession with a camcorder, Peders admits that, as a reporter, he has made up stories and sources, and that he essentially caused his alcoholic former wife's death. (he took his time responding to her distress call to him - by the time he arrived, she was already dead).

Katya swaps out the camcorder tape when Peders is unaware, and a while later, Peders attempts to do the same. On a clandestine phone call to his editor, Peders - against his promise to Katya - tells him that Katya has cancer. Peders leaves Katya's loft, and as he is walking outside, she calls him on his cell phone.

Katya reveals that not only did she lie about having cancer, (the diary Peders believed was hers was actually the diary of the character she played) but she has Peders' confessional tape. She inquires whether she should send it to his editor first or the police. Peders smugly retorts that he swapped the tape first; Katya disagrees and says he only has her rehearsal tape.

The movie ends with Peders and Katya watching their tapes - Peders wearing a sullen expression. Katya sips a glass of wine while watching Peders' confessional tape, but it is unknown if she will follow through with her threat.

[edit] Trivia

The names of the character are retrieved from the names of the actors who played in the original dutch version. Buscemi's Katya (Sienna Miller) represents Van Gogh's Katja who is played by Katja Schuurman. Buscemi's Pierre (Steve Buscemi) represents Van Gogh's Pierre who is played by Pierre Bokma.
During a view of the loft of Katya, a picture of Katja Schuurman, who played the role of Katya in the original dutch version, and Theo van Gogh, the director of the original dutch version, can be seen.
As Pierre leaves the loft of Katya he bumps into a girl getting out of a limo. This girl is Katja Schuurman who played the role of Katya in the original dutch version.
Theo van Gogh always wanted his films to be remade in Hollywood and played by famous American actors. Due to his murder, things were going a lot faster; also due to the work of Fons van Westerloo.