The Visitor (2007/I)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Thomas McCarthy

Writer:

Thomas McCarthy (written by)

Release Date:

18 April 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Music | Romance

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:

Apartment | Professor | College | Conference | Immigrant

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 12 wins & 12 nominations

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:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Arabic | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:PG | USA:PG-13 | UK:15 | Ireland:PG | Australia:M | Sweden:Btl | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Singapore:NC-16 | Netherlands:AL | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:Atp | South Korea:All

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Groundswell Productions

Trivia:

The parking lot in which Walter parks his car after arriving in New York - on East 11th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenue - was torn down shortly after the film was released.

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:

Mouna Khalil: This feels like Syria.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2009) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Salsera

I don't mean to be the only voice of cynicism but . . .

I loved THE STATION AGENT, I mean that is a fantastic, tight little movie. Thoughtful, paced well, bitter-sweet, colorful characters and a real story.

THE VISITOR was a movie I was prepared to love, but its not that great. In fact, I would venture to say its a little preachy. There are moments in which the characters are living the moment, and then they will break out some stale monologue that doesn't quite match the organic dialogue its spoiling.

Even though I am all for loosening immigration laws, and accepting interracial relationships, I just didn't feel like I needed the pan up to the American flag, or the 'How is this different than Syria' or the 'He didn't do anything wrong' Why Why Why Why Why . . . we got it covered, oh-the-injustice. Do we have to continually remind the audiences that our country is flawed and xenophobic? I noticed a similar heavy-handedness in STOP-LOSS with an equally talented director. I have concluded that good filmmakers should not tell stories when they are angry, because it seeps into characters, the landscape and the narrative like red ink.

OK but not great.