The Visitor-Movie Review 08/13/2010
Posted by Films to consider in American, Drama, Movies.trackback
The Visitor (American) 2008
Among other awards and nominations:
Official Selection, Toronto International Film Festival; Sundance Film Festival; Miami International Film Festival; South by Southwest Film Festival
Nominated, Best Actor (Richard Jenkins), Academy Awards
Written and directed by Tom McCarthy
Richard Jenkins stars as Walter Vale, a middle-aged college economics professor who looks just like Professor-what’s-his-name we’ve all had in some course or other. Walter, whose life in Connecticut has become meaningless, comes upon a couple living in the apartment he maintains in NYC. They are in this country illegally, Tarek from Syria (Hazz Sleiman) and Zainab from Senegal (Danai Gurira). Rather than reacting harshly, Walter befriends the couple. Soon Tarek, a drummer, introduces Walter to the musician friends he plays with in the park, and Walter follows up on his own interest in music with drum lessons from Tarek. He starts to loosen up a little and enjoy life. When Tarek gets arrested and is likely to become deported, Walter tries to help him.
A film about emotional growth and the unexpected possibilities life sometimes sends our way. The quietly right-on performances make this film worthwhile.
104 min. Rated PG-13.
FILMS TO CONSIDER 
I liked this movie so much that i kept taking other people to see it as well. Not only is it an excellent character study of a man who learns to be alive again, but it puts a human face to issues like globalization and immigration. Walter goes from being someone who can dispassionately deliver a lecture on economics in the age of globalization to someone who sees and is changed by its impact on the lives of real people.