The Visitor (2008/Overture/Anchor Bay DVD)
Picture: C+ Sound: C+ Extras: B- Film: B-
When a
film gets critical raves, it is more often than ever hype for product a given
company is simply trying to get it money back on, which is unfair to the better
films that do get made and do not always get the attention they should. Actor and sometimes director Thomas McCarthy
(The Station Agent) is back at the
helm with his second film, The Visitor
(2008) and though I was only so impressed with his debut, but this is a really
interesting film and one that deserves the hype for a change.
Longtime
recognizable character actor Richard Jenkins (Mike Nichols’ Wolf, Clint Eastwood’s Absolute Power, The Coen Brothers’ The Man Who Wasn’t There) is Professor
Walter Vale, a tough college teacher working on a book he cannot seem to get to
write on. He intends to go back to an
apartment of his to get away from the stress of his job and personal misery
when he discovers a couple living in his apartment!
At first,
there is panic, but they are in the United States illegally and he (in what
seems like an atypical move) intends to help them. He is also trying to learn piano and his
heart is not into it, but it turns out he is also a widower and this situation
has an odd effect on him. Then Tarek
(Haaz Sleiman) turns out to know how to play a drum-like instrument called the
Djembe and Walter’s interest is peaked in music more. Unfortunately one day in an innocent
incident, the two are using a subway when Tarek is accused of not paying his
fare and lands up being put away in a semi-secret prison. Now Walter will do what he can to help, but
the situation is about to get darker than anyone ever expected.
Everyone
is so good here, including Jenkins, showing he can easily carry a lead
role. He is so good that his transitions
are not easy to catch and always a liable, talented actor, it is nice to
finally see him get his due. Richard
Kind shows up at one point and the rest of the new cast is very good. Then there is a great story here making some
great points about the Bush II era and government beyond that era, which is why
the film is being somewhat ignored on purpose.
I hope the Obama Era opens up the film to more people and more people
get to enjoy this smart surprise of a film.
Any serious film person needs to see it at least once.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image was shot in Fuji stocks and since they
look more video-like in their color versus Kodak product, the transfer here
gives them a dull look that would make you think this was an HD shoot with as
soft as this can be. A Blu-ray was also
issued, but we have not seen it as of this posting. The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is also limited,
but in this case because this is a dialogue-based film. Extras include the original theatrical
trailer, deleted scenes, Playing The
Djembe featurette, an inside look at the film and a feature-length audio
commentary by McCarthy and Jenkins, all of which are worth your time.
- Nicholas Sheffo
