The Visitor (2007/I)

Director:

Thomas McCarthy

Writer:

Thomas McCarthy (written by)

Release Date:

18 April 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Connection is everything

Plot:

A college professor travels to New York City to attend a conference and finds a young couple living in his apartment.

Plot Keywords:

Music | Interracial Romance | Busker | New York City | Turnstile

Awards:

4 wins

US Showtimes:

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Cast

Richard Jenkins	...	Prof. Walter Vale
Haaz Sleiman	...	Tarek Khalil
Danai Jekesai Gurira	...	Zainab (as Danai Gurira)
Hiam Abbass	...	Mouna Khalil
Marian Seldes	...	Barbara
Maggie Moore	...	Karen
Michael Cumpsty	...	Charles
Bill McHenry	...	Darin
Richard Kind	...	Jacob
Tzahi Moskovitz	...	Zev
Amir Arison	...	Mr. Shah
Neal Lerner	...	Martin Revere
Ramon Fernandez	...	Cop #1
Frank Pando	...	Cop #2
Waleed Zuaiter	...	Omar

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.

Runtime:

Canada:103 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | USA:108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Arabic

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Ireland:PG | USA:PG-13 | UK:15 | Australia:M | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Groundswell Productions

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: During the night shot of Manhattan from New York Harbor, the wake of the camera boat is visible in the lower left hand corner.

Quotes:

Prof. Walter Vale: We are not helpless children!

Soundtrack:

Salsera

Outstanding

It's only about twice a decade that I run across a movie that really impresses me. It's usually an obscure film that I entered with no expectations -- but left blown away by its cinematic achievement.

I just saw such a film tonight. "The Visitor" A small independent production with zero-advertising. Made by Tom McCarthy whose prior film, "The Station Agent," was an imperfect, character-absorbed drama.

The star of this movie is an actor (Richard Jenkins) whom you'll recognize from his numerous roles as minor-characters, most notably the dead-patriarch in "Six Feet Under." All of the other actors are completely unknown, but notably talented.

The appeal of this film is its story. An aged, listless academic, whose wife died earlier, floats through his uninteresting life until something happens to jar him. What happens next is unexpected, interesting and poignant. It would ruin the story if I told it to you, so you'll have to trust me. Suffice it to say it's a story of rebirth.

Like most of my favorite films, it has comedy, pathos, surprises, authenticity and a philosophical examination of what it means to be human. In short, everything, even politics.

And the presentation is skillfully-crafted. McCarthy demonstrates what was good about his prior work without dragging it down with what was bad about that work.

See it.