Review: The Visitor

Year: 2007
Genre: Drama
Stars: Richard Jenkins, Haaz Sleiman, Hiam Abbass & Danai Gurira
Director: Thomas McCarthy

Overview: Richard Jenkins stars as Professor Walter Vale a widower who apart from a lackluster interest in the piano has started phoning in life. Forced to attend a conference in New York City, Walter returns to his old apartment in the city to find two illegal squatters living in it. Reluctantly he allows them to stay and what starts as an uneasy relationship between Walter and his new roommates Tarek and Zainab becomes a warm friendship that is tested when Tarek becomes at risk of deportation.

Writing: The Visitor is a very low-key film with an understated tone that is highlighted in the gentle script. Characters are fleshed out to a fault as the character Walter's malaise makes him initially hard to deal with. Luckily Tarek's natural positivity not subtly changes the mood of the film but elevates Walter's disposition. The movie however falls into familiar territory during its third act when Tarek is faced with deportation and Walter watches and waits hopelessly with his mother played by Hiam Abbas. Fortunately the fine acting from the entire cast offsets any predictability and the end provided some emotional heft.

Directing:Thomas McCarthy's first film The Station Agent showed the emotional legitimacy of a group of odd but relatable characters. While the characters are no less fleshed out it seems he reined in his more fanciful predilections which shows in his direction. McCarthy's New York is shown with a realistic grittiness that while appropriate, isn't quite groundbreaking. McCarthy's strengths however aren't necessarily technical but rather in his ability to capture the emotions of people. In one scene Walter, not realizing anyone is home sits down in a chair and starts to play Tarek's drum. When Tarek appears he teaches Walter a few tricks starting Walter's gradual process of stripping his protective outer shell.

Acting: Veteran character actor Richard Jenkins shines in this movie, shedding off the layers of Hollywood typecasting to become a leading man. Films like this likewise give unrecognizable players like Haaz Sleiman and Danai Gurira opportunity to prove they can do their jobs just as well if not better than the top grossers. Much due applause however must be given to Hiam Abbass who simultaneously expresses remorse and strength as Tarek's mother.

Bankability: Richard Jenkins is the Stephen Tobolowsky of our generation obscuring himself through a varied and impressive body of work. Still most people would only know him as "that guy" so wouldn't be immediately drawn to this picture. Hiam Abbass has had some exposure to American audiences in small films like Amreeka and The Nativity Story but otherwise not a real draw either. Still, featuring topical subjects like immigration and having an overall uplifting message may be just what one needs to expand their horizons and the pacing of the movie keeps things on an even keel.

ALL-Factor: Despite a few awkward moments between Walter and his new cohorts, specifically learning how to play the drums, the film is essentially laugh free. The drama while lukewarm is accessible and doesn't sputter into melodrama territory. What is left is Thomas McCarthy's humanistic realism that has been the hallmark of his short but laudable directing career.

Conclusion: Conveying a realism that treats an abstract topic with humanity while expounding on the universal message that it is never to late to start something new gives this movie a sense of immediacy that rocks the attentive watcher to his/her core. Still, when one tries to expound realism in their art the consequences are nothing less than the risk of being dull or worse preachy. Luckily The Visitor avoids most of these pratfalls by giving a simple and earnest tale of humanity.