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The Visitor 2010-07-22

Reviewer: Marilyn

I loved this movie. Casting was great, performances were believable, subject matter was important. My only complaint was not about the movie, but the DVD does not play all of the movie-bad spots on the disc which required skipping two sections of the movie. Luckily I had seen the movie in theater. However, I wanted this one for my library because it is one you can see over and over... This is worth the see, but be aware that you too might get a bad disc!The Visitor

The unthinkable intersections of fate! 2010-07-16

Reviewer: Hiram Gomez Pardo

A solitaire man (Richard Jenkins) , whose wife has passed way is a remarkable investigator and docent in the University. His life turns around these items. And additionally, he tries to keep into his affective memory the presence of his wife who was an eminent pedagogue of the piano.

He is not precisely gifted for the play of the nobles of the instruments. But his life will experience a real twist of fate when he returns to his apartment and so he realizes a couple of immigrants (He comes from Syria and she from Senegal). Since this curious incident, a heartfelt friendship will begin when our sad and introspective protagonist experiences the beat playing the djembe ( a percussion instrument).

From this perspective an underserved incident will show him the provisory measures since 9/11 and a set of crucial events will take place.

As you can see, we have two antagonist situations, the boring existential and almost mechanical behavior of our teacher in contraposition with the joy of vivre of this couple trying in the middle of their unstable condition to forge themselves a promissory future.

A memorable example of the cinema of author that carves in relief once more you don't need a big budget plenty of special effects all the way through.

Watch it. It will reward you from start to finish.

Boring, Liberal View of Immigration 2010-06-09

Reviewer: Loyd E. Eskildson

"The Visitor" is a story of a lonely, aimless widowed economics professor, Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins). He has a shallow meaningless life now that his wife has died and tries to learn piano at retirement age. His job as professor has not changed for years, teaching the same class over and over and he is stuck in a rut.

Vale has to leave his Connecticut home to speak at a conference in Manhattan, that his college insists he participate. Vale arrives at his Manhattan apartment which he has not visited since his wife died. He is is surprised when he finds a young immigrant couple, Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and Zainab (Danai Guira) living quite comfortably and they are upset he came in. They claim a friend rented the apartment to them.

At this point I was surprised at no anger either way as the young couple packs their belongings and leaves to find somewhere to stay. For some reason Vale takes pity and invites them back to stay "a couple of days." Tarek teaches Vale how to play an African drum and Vale drops his Classical music and goes for the drums.

Vale learns that Tarek is from Syria and Zainab is from Senegal. Tarek has talent with the drums and Zainab sells homemade jewelry near the park Tarek plays his drums. Tarek wants to thank Vale for letting them stay and teaches him the drums and a friendship develops. They are linked by the vibrant, lively music and playing together.

Since this film was made in 2007, post 9-11 we are reminded constantly of security, American Flags and their fear of being caught. Tarek and Zainab are both illegal aliens, but the movie goes to great lengths explaining it is not their fault, all they want is a better life. Tarek's mother Mouna (Hiam Abbass) arrives and explains she is at fault for Tarek not having his papers - after he is put into detention.

The movie gives the ideal plot of cultural barriers being broken through music - and finding the beat of a different drummer gives Walter a new world and a new life. However, the liberal bias of the movie shows throughout.

Movie 2010-05-04

Reviewer: J. Wilmoth

I haven't had a chance to watch the movie so don't have a review at this time.

A Sketch Rather Than A Script 2010-04-02

Reviewer: Jeff Farrow

Supposedly THE VISITOR represents a new genre of American film, a less bombastic, technically leaned down movie. If that means employing a very sketchy script, than it certainly applies here.

You've got traumatic events happening bang, bang, bang--but not only does it seem unreal, nobody reacts to them--or when they do react it seems to be either a question of too little, too late; reactions contrary to the character of the person involved, or just downright unbelievable. The situations the characters find themselves in seem equally contrived. In such a format you'd better have strong characterization, or you're in trouble. THE VISITOR is in trouble from the onset and drags on to a less than satisfying--and contrived conclusion.

"Understated," is one thing, but tiring or lacking substance is another.

I liked the potential of the story, liked the actors (REALLY liked Hiam Abbass who played the mother) and enjoyed certain fragments of story line, like when the mother asks the professor about the academic book he is writing and he snaps back to the effect that only other writers would understand his creative process--but here again, he immediately corrects himself. He corrects himself too quickly, I felt. It was his uppity touchiness that I found believable. I know "educated artists" like that. More could have been done with this flash of realism, but it is quickly brushed aside.

I write I like Hiam Abbass because, quite frankly, I found her very attractive physically. She's middle-aged and still very lovely, and must have really been a knockout 20 years ago. I suppose this is sexist, but I'm going for the most positive here.

Unfortunately, I just don't believe most of the movie, it may have been more effective had it been made for television. Nonetheless, it's worth watching if for the little peek behind the facade of Homeland Security.