The Visitor (C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
A Connecticut-based economics professor travels to NYC to attend a conference & finds a young immigrant couple living in his apartment in 'The Visitor', written & directed by Thomas McCarthy. Disillusioned, and recently widowed, Walter Vale's (Richard Jenkins) life takes an unexpected turn by this chance encounter. Tarek & Zainab (Haaz Sleiman, Danai Gurira) make up the homeless, illegal couple who accidentally change Walter's life for good. This is an extremely quiet movie; a nice little story (well, sometimes not so nice). The acting is great. But it's nothing to get riled up about; more tedious than affecting in the end.
Tarek is a Syrian musician, & Zainab is his Senegalese girlfriend. Feeling bad for them (and perhaps a bit lonely) he invites them to stay in his apartment with him for a few days til they find their next rest stop. With time, Walter loosens up around them especially when Tarek picks up on Walter's affection for music. In an act of subtle liberation, Tarek teaches Walter how to play his Syrian drum. All is going nicely until a mix-up at the subway station leads to Tarek being hauled away by immigration authorities. His mom, Mouna (Hiam Abbass) comes to visit Tarek & is stunned to find Walter in the apartment she figured to be Tarek's.
Though she's lived in Michigan for many decades, she, too, is an illegal alien. Because of this, she is scared to visit Tarek at headquarters. Walter visits him on her behalf. And both Walter & Mouna form a bond. It starts slow. But before you know it, he's taken her to go see 'The Phantom of the Opera' on Broadway; followed by dinner at a nice restaurant ... anything to prevent further thought of her son's possible deportation. They keep each other company, not because they love each other, or even because of a physical attraction -- but because (for this small slice of life) they need each other.
There are 2 interesting themes at work in 'The Visitor': 1) the injustice/justice of post-9/11 immigration policies. And 2) music as a healing mechanism. We feel for Tarek, and his plight. But he IS here illegally. You can't have it both ways. Mouna & Walter realize this (I think), and act accordingly. And regarding music; Walter clearly loves it. His widow was a brilliant pianist. And it took Tarek's drum to get him back in the swing of things. Human connection & MUSIC brought him around; gave him a reason for living (and persevering).
'The Visitor' is a subtle & touching movie about change & renewal. Its plot takes place over the course of 10 or so. And still, the bonds created by the 4 main characters feel very real. They're all pleasant, but flawed people who sometimes don't have any choice but to take life's blows as gracefully as they can. The acting is great; lead by an effective performance by character-actor, Richard Jenkins. But I have to say that while it ardently tries ... the film did not shake me to my core. Portions (near the end) felt forced. It's also very earnest; which makes it admirable, but kind of boring.
Tarek is a Syrian musician, & Zainab is his Senegalese girlfriend. Feeling bad for them (and perhaps a bit lonely) he invites them to stay in his apartment with him for a few days til they find their next rest stop. With time, Walter loosens up around them especially when Tarek picks up on Walter's affection for music. In an act of subtle liberation, Tarek teaches Walter how to play his Syrian drum. All is going nicely until a mix-up at the subway station leads to Tarek being hauled away by immigration authorities. His mom, Mouna (Hiam Abbass) comes to visit Tarek & is stunned to find Walter in the apartment she figured to be Tarek's.
Though she's lived in Michigan for many decades, she, too, is an illegal alien. Because of this, she is scared to visit Tarek at headquarters. Walter visits him on her behalf. And both Walter & Mouna form a bond. It starts slow. But before you know it, he's taken her to go see 'The Phantom of the Opera' on Broadway; followed by dinner at a nice restaurant ... anything to prevent further thought of her son's possible deportation. They keep each other company, not because they love each other, or even because of a physical attraction -- but because (for this small slice of life) they need each other.
There are 2 interesting themes at work in 'The Visitor': 1) the injustice/justice of post-9/11 immigration policies. And 2) music as a healing mechanism. We feel for Tarek, and his plight. But he IS here illegally. You can't have it both ways. Mouna & Walter realize this (I think), and act accordingly. And regarding music; Walter clearly loves it. His widow was a brilliant pianist. And it took Tarek's drum to get him back in the swing of things. Human connection & MUSIC brought him around; gave him a reason for living (and persevering).
'The Visitor' is a subtle & touching movie about change & renewal. Its plot takes place over the course of 10 or so. And still, the bonds created by the 4 main characters feel very real. They're all pleasant, but flawed people who sometimes don't have any choice but to take life's blows as gracefully as they can. The acting is great; lead by an effective performance by character-actor, Richard Jenkins. But I have to say that while it ardently tries ... the film did not shake me to my core. Portions (near the end) felt forced. It's also very earnest; which makes it admirable, but kind of boring.