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The Visitor

Don't let this one pass you by

By Geoff Berkshire

Metromix
April 10, 2008

Critic's Rating:

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Lonely widower Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins) gets an unexpected surprise when he returns to his rarely used Manhattan apartment for a business trip: married illegal immigrants, Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and Zainab (Danai Gurira), have been living there for months, unaware that someone else was already renting it. When Walter allows them to stay, he forms a strong bond with Tarek. Then tragedy strikes and Tarek’s mother Mouna (Hiam Abbass) pays an unexpected visit that further challenges Walter’s quiet life.

Big question: Can director Tom McCarthy (also an actor known to fans of “The Wire” and “Boston Public”) duplicate the indie success he achieved with “The Station Agent”?

Catch it: What begins as a study in oppressive loneliness grows into something deeper with every subtle turn in the story. McCarthy demonstrates again that plot mechanics are less important to his films than gradually developing characters that the audience can grow to understand and care about—which only increases the devastating impact of seeing lives rudely interrupted by bureaucracy.

Skip it: If you’re not the least bit curious to see how frequent supporting player Richard Jenkins (who did stellar work as Nathaniel Fisher on “Six Feet Under” and an uptight ATF agent in “Flirting with Disaster”) handles a lead role. But that’s your loss…

Bottom line: “The Visitor” scores by expanding its scope beyond the hot-button issue of illegal immigration to encompass themes of friendship and breaking free of a stifling routine. McCarthy’s writing is razor sharp without ever losing its compassionate center and the four central actors match his efforts all the way with flawless performances. This is one of the most recognizably human movies you’re likely to see all year.

Bonus: As evidenced by his recent work on “The Wire,” McCarthy is still acting and recently completed a role in Peter Jackson’s next movie, “The Lovely Bones.”