list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around The Visitor on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/The_Visitor/292184/default.aspx Title: The Visitor
Year: 2008
Director: Tom McCarthy
Plot: A lonesome widower and college economics professor finds his mundane existence suddenly shaken up when he befriends a pair of illegal immigrants, one of whom has recently been threatened with deportation by U.S. immigration authorities, in the sophomore feature from The Station Agent director Tom McCarthy. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 4
Number of Lists: 15
Number of blog posts: 8
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Tue, 19 May 2009 00:01:24 GMTThe Visitor2008Tom McCarthyA lonesome widower and college economics professor finds his mundane existence suddenly shaken up when he befriends a pair of illegal immigrants, one of whom has recently been threatened with deportation by U.S. immigration authorities, in the sophomore feature from <a href="http://www.spout.com/films/220050/detail.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>The Station Agent</a> director Tom McCarthy. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide4Slightly Tagged (1-5)1583http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s292184.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/The_Visitor/292184/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/blogs/jimbell/archive/2008/12/15/38429.aspx Post By: JimBell
Post To: JimBell Blog
Post Date: 12/15/2008 10:50:15 PM
Body: The central theme of Tom McCarthy’s top-notch film, The Visitor (2008), is a burnt-out, 62-year old professor recovering his appetite for life when he stumbles upon and befriends two illegal immigrants in his New York apartment. Professor Walter Vale’s (Richard Jenkins) slowly coming out of his shell is handled deftly and does not follow a predictable arc. If you think everyone is going to live happily ever after, you don’t know the realism of director and writer Tom McCarthy’s film. The young Syrian drummer, Tarek (Haaz Sleiman), is jovial and charming until a misunderstanding on the subway lands him in a detention center facing deportation. And then things get worse and better simultaneously. The more high profile theme is the terrible way the Immigration Department treats illegal aliens post-9/11. But here, the argument is skewed and unfair. While the detention center is stark, the immigration officials uncaring bureaucrats, and the entire process gut-wrenching, we only get incomplete glimpses of why, some years ago, Tarek and his mother were not granted refugee status. Tarek’s father spent time in a Syrian prison for something he wrote in his newspaper, and two months after his release, he died. His wife and son went to the USA and asked for refugee status. That’s all we know. There is nothing in that information that would give them a very good chance of being granted refugee status, and they were not. So, yes, many heart-breaking things happen to Tarek and the people around him, and, yes, the Immigration Department looks heartless, but Tarek and his mother probably had a fair hearing that refused them asylum, a probability the film all but buries. I really liked the film because the characters and their interactions were superbly drawn. But you would not like the film if you don’t like small-scale dramas, or if you cannot identify with a burned-out, old, white, male professor, or if you want a scathing instead of subtle condemnation of “the system,” or if you want an undeniably happy ending. I found the characters memorable and affecting, and I enjoyed spending time with them at a turning point in their lives.
]]>Tue, 16 Dec 2008 03:50:15 GMTJimBellJimBell Blog12/15/2008 10:50:15 PMThe central theme of Tom McCarthy&rsquo;s top-notch film, The Visitor (2008), is a burnt-out, 62-year old professor recovering his appetite for life when he stumbles upon and befriends two illegal immigrants in his New York apartment. Professor Walter Vale&rsquo;s (Richard Jenkins) slowly coming out of his shell is handled deftly and does not follow a predictable arc. If you think everyone is going to live happily ever after, you don&rsquo;t know the realism of director and writer Tom McCarthy&rsquo;s film. The young Syrian drummer, Tarek (Haaz Sleiman), is jovial and charming until a misunderstanding on the subway lands him in a detention center facing deportation. And then things get worse and better simultaneously. The more high profile theme is the terrible way the Immigration Department treats illegal aliens post-9/11. But here, the argument is skewed and unfair. While the detention center is stark, the immigration officials uncaring bureaucrats, and the entire process gut-wrenching, we only get incomplete glimpses of why, some years ago, Tarek and his mother were not granted refugee status. Tarek&rsquo;s father spent time in a Syrian prison for something he wrote in his newspaper, and two months after his release, he died. His wife and son went to the USA and asked for refugee status. That&rsquo;s all we know. There is nothing in that information that would give them a very good chance of being granted refugee status, and they were not. So, yes, many heart-breaking things happen to Tarek and the people around him, and, yes, the Immigration Department looks heartless, but Tarek and his mother probably had a fair hearing that refused them asylum, a probability the film all but buries. I really liked the film because the characters and their interactions were superbly drawn. But you would not like the film if you don&rsquo;t like small-scale dramas, or if you cannot identify with a burned-out, old, white, male professor, or if you want a scathing instead of subtle condemnation of &ldquo;the system,&rdquo; or if you want an undeniably happy ending. I found the characters memorable and affecting, and I enjoyed spending time with them at a turning point in their lives. http://www.spout.com/blogs/karina/archive/2008/12/11/38232.aspx Post By: Karina
Post To: Karina on SpoutBlog
Post Date: 12/11/2008 10:01:37 AM
Body: The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has announced the nominees for the annual Golden Globes, and the LA Times has all the info. First-read surprises? The Visitor gets a nod for Best Motion Picture Drama while Milk doesn’t; both Robert Downey Jr AND Tom Cruise were nominated for Best Supporting Actor (a category which the Globes don’t break down by genre) for their work in Tropic Thunder; and Happy-Go-Lucky, which has been racking up the critics nods with several Best Actresses for Sally Hawkins, was completely shut out. Take a look at the full list here, and let us know what you’re particularyl happy or sad about. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog » Karina Longworth
]]>Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:01:37 GMTKarinaKarina on SpoutBlog12/11/2008 10:01:37 AMThe Hollywood Foreign Press Association has announced the nominees for the annual Golden Globes, and the LA Times has all the info. First-read surprises? The Visitor gets a nod for Best Motion Picture Drama while Milk doesn’t; both Robert Downey Jr AND Tom Cruise were nominated for Best Supporting Actor (a category which the Globes don’t break down by genre) for their work in Tropic Thunder; and Happy-Go-Lucky, which has been racking up the critics nods with several Best Actresses for Sally Hawkins, was completely shut out. Take a look at the full list here, and let us know what you’re particularyl happy or sad about. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog » Karina Longworth http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/12/11/38230.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 12/11/2008 10:01:23 AM
Body: The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has announced the nominees for the annual Golden Globes, and the LA Times has all the info. First-read surprises? The Visitor gets a nod for Best Motion Picture Drama while Milk doesn’t; both Robert Downey Jr AND Tom Cruise were nominated for Best Supporting Actor (a category which the Globes don’t break down by genre) for their work in Tropic Thunder; and Happy-Go-Lucky, which has been racking up the critics nods with several Best Actresses for Sally Hawkins, was completely shut out. Take a look at the full list here, and let us know what you’re particularyl happy or sad about. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:01:23 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com12/11/2008 10:01:23 AMThe Hollywood Foreign Press Association has announced the nominees for the annual Golden Globes, and the LA Times has all the info. First-read surprises? The Visitor gets a nod for Best Motion Picture Drama while Milk doesn’t; both Robert Downey Jr AND Tom Cruise were nominated for Best Supporting Actor (a category which the Globes don’t break down by genre) for their work in Tropic Thunder; and Happy-Go-Lucky, which has been racking up the critics nods with several Best Actresses for Sally Hawkins, was completely shut out. Take a look at the full list here, and let us know what you’re particularyl happy or sad about. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/blogs/atacta/archive/2008/11/28/37709.aspx Post By: atacta
Post To: atacta Blog
Post Date: 11/28/2008 11:28:24 AM
Body: A very sweet story that Richard Jenkins (Prof. Walter Vale) was just meant to play. The feeling I am left with is altruism in it's purest form, beyond even the backdrop of 9/11 deportation which is somewhat of a political misstep in the film anyway. Vale, despondent from his mundane existence is reinvigorated by discovering an illegal couple living in a NY property of his but not one he frequents. There should be more excitement in economics than this. Vale bonds immediately with the male lead in a mutual love for music. The film is not without its faults: 1. Again, the political landscape falls tired because its been going on for centuries in many countries, 2. The widower theme and a disjointed relationship with a son is never developed at all (this backdrop is a conceit to persuade the audience to feel a certain way going in - I don't like to be persuaded a certain way going in.), 3. Why not have the relationship with the mother and Vale become sexual?But overall its inspiring to watch Vale as he desperately yet calmly tries to solve the problem at hand. I have always loved Jenkins, especially in his comic roles (e.g. Flirting With Disaster) but this is his film and in the special features in the blu-ray DVD he confirms its his role of a lifetime.
]]>Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:28:24 GMTatactaatacta Blog11/28/2008 11:28:24 AMA very sweet story that Richard Jenkins (Prof. Walter Vale) was just meant to play. The feeling I am left with is altruism in it's purest form, beyond even the backdrop of 9/11 deportation which is somewhat of a political misstep in the film anyway. Vale, despondent from his mundane existence is reinvigorated by discovering an illegal couple living in a NY property of his but not one he frequents. There should be more excitement in economics than this. Vale bonds immediately with the male lead in a mutual love for music. The film is not without its faults: 1. Again, the political landscape falls tired because its been going on for centuries in many countries, 2. The widower theme and a disjointed relationship with a son is never developed at all (this backdrop is a conceit to persuade the audience to feel a certain way going in - I don't like to be persuaded a certain way going in.), 3. Why not have the relationship with the mother and Vale become sexual?But overall its inspiring to watch Vale as he desperately yet calmly tries to solve the problem at hand. I have always loved Jenkins, especially in his comic roles (e.g. Flirting With Disaster) but this is his film and in the special features in the blu-ray DVD he confirms its his role of a lifetime. http://www.spout.com/blogs/megcinema/archive/2008/5/12/28483.aspx Post By: megcinema
Post To: megcinema Blog
Post Date: 5/12/2008 2:23:58 AM
Body: Six words-Quiet film about finding your instrument. Megcinema-To never know where you are going is a sweet ride.
]]>Mon, 12 May 2008 06:23:58 GMTmegcinemamegcinema Blog5/12/2008 2:23:58 AMSix words-Quiet film about finding your instrument. Megcinema-To never know where you are going is a sweet ride. http://www.spout.com/blogs/laraemeadows/archive/2008/5/2/28116.aspx Post By: laraemeadows
Post To: laraemeadows Blog
Post Date: 5/2/2008 5:40:15 PM
Body: The Visitor strings together unlikely events in the lives of a professor and his visitors. Remarkably sincere and touching, the unimaginable events feel natural. Awkward Connecticut economics professor Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins) has essentially checked out from his job, his personality and his life. Walter is forced by circumstance to return to his abandoned New York City apartment. When he returns he meets Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and Zainab (Danai Jekesai Gurira), who have taken up unauthorized residence in his apartment. Tarek and Zainab teach Walter to live again, to come out of his shell and remind him how unfair life can be. Writer and director Thomas McCarthy wrote all of the characters in The Visitor with almost contradictory personality attributes which gives them each a complex humanity. McCarthy wrote Walter Vale painfully dull and bumbling but it was Richard Jenkins who also makes Walter charming and heart breaking. In nearly every setting, Jenkins both makes the audience scrunch their faces at Walter’s social inadequacies while simultaneously bringing out our Florence Nightingale instincts. As Walter changes in the course The Visitor, Jenkins keeps the essential qualities of Walter but changes him in surprising ways. The supporting cast isn’t any less remarkable in The Visitor. There is a master of life, a vision of unabashed sadness and an embodiment of sensual motherly warmth. Haaz Sleiman, who plays Tarek, is (damn foxy) full of life as Tarek. His esprit fills Tarek, the audience, the other characters and actors with such vitality. Danai Jekesai Guria plays Zainab, Tarek’s girlfriend. So much of Zainab is forlorn despondent dejection. Rich with beautiful hardness and unnaturally attractive pain, Danai Jekesai Guria made Zainab so hard to watch but impossible to pull your eyes away from. Hiam Abbass plays Mouna, Tarek’s mother. Her fear is palpable but she never loses her intangible sensuality. The most remarkable part of The Visitor is the way it organically shows the way life can change un-expectantly, unfairly and without warning and does it with real, raw emotion. Just when you think you’ve figured out what the movie is about, you slapped with a new reality. It is frightening, timely and angering. Even the ending, which is not the typical movie ending, is emotive in a subtle and realistic way. I was not overwhelmed or underwhelmed by the movie, I was perfectly whelmed; a task indeed. The pacing is the one complaint I have with The Visitor. The editing could have been much better. There are beautiful scenes sometimes drawn out to boredom. Scenes that were the actors’ timing is slightly off are only highlighted by the shoddy editing. The Visitor is an artsy movie but Tom McArdle checked out completely in a few of the scenes. Slow bits aside, The Visitor is a rewarding film with rich characters, beautiful acting and complexities that might make those people who are quick to tears, cry.
]]>Fri, 02 May 2008 21:40:15 GMTlaraemeadowslaraemeadows Blog5/2/2008 5:40:15 PM The Visitor strings together unlikely events in the lives of a professor and his visitors. Remarkably sincere and touching, the unimaginable events feel natural. Awkward Connecticut economics professor Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins) has essentially checked out from his job, his personality and his life. Walter is forced by circumstance to return to his abandoned New York City apartment. When he returns he meets Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and Zainab (Danai Jekesai Gurira), who have taken up unauthorized residence in his apartment. Tarek and Zainab teach Walter to live again, to come out of his shell and remind him how unfair life can be. Writer and director Thomas McCarthy wrote all of the characters in The Visitor with almost contradictory personality attributes which gives them each a complex humanity. McCarthy wrote Walter Vale painfully dull and bumbling but it was Richard Jenkins who also makes Walter charming and heart breaking. In nearly every setting, Jenkins both makes the audience scrunch their faces at Walter&rsquo;s social inadequacies while simultaneously bringing out our Florence Nightingale instincts. As Walter changes in the course The Visitor, Jenkins keeps the essential qualities of Walter but changes him in surprising ways. The supporting cast isn&rsquo;t any less remarkable in The Visitor. There is a master of life, a vision of unabashed sadness and an embodiment of sensual motherly warmth. Haaz Sleiman, who plays Tarek, is (damn foxy) full of life as Tarek. His esprit fills Tarek, the audience, the other characters and actors with such vitality. Danai Jekesai Guria plays Zainab, Tarek&rsquo;s girlfriend. So much of Zainab is forlorn despondent dejection. Rich with beautiful hardness and unnaturally attractive pain, Danai Jekesai Guria made Zainab so hard to watch but impossible to pull your eyes away from. Hiam Abbass plays Mouna, Tarek&rsquo;s mother. Her fear is palpable but she never loses her intangible sensuality. The most remarkable part of The Visitor is the way it organically shows the way life can change un-expectantly, unfairly and without warning and does it with real, raw emotion. Just when you think you&rsquo;ve figured out what the movie is about, you slapped with a new reality. It is frightening, timely and angering. Even the ending, which is not the typical movie ending, is emotive in a subtle and realistic way. I was not overwhelmed or underwhelmed by the movie, I was perfectly whelmed; a task indeed. The pacing is the one complaint I have with The Visitor. The editing could have been much better. There are beautiful scenes sometimes drawn out to boredom. Scenes that were the actors&rsquo; timing is slightly off are only highlighted by the shoddy editing. The Visitor is an artsy movie but Tom McArdle checked out completely in a few of the scenes. Slow bits aside, The Visitor is a rewarding film with rich characters, beautiful acting and complexities that might make those people who are quick to tears, cry. http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/4/11/27210.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 4/11/2008 9:02:09 AM
Body: If you’re visiting a theater and tired of the same old movie clichés, conventional wisdom would point you to the independent movie selection. However, a string on indiewood flicks–most recently The Visitor (opening tonight)–are caving in on their own “indie” clichés. Like rogue environmentalists tracking an invasive species in an Appalachian creek bed, we digest their ways and spew out some indiewood movie pitches of our own. As a palette cleanser, we talk to Carson Mell. We formed a crush on him last week watching Wholphin DVD No. 5. His sharp wit and creativity are on display in his short animation, Chonto. filmcouch-65 (Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store and an episode will download each Friday) Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:02:09 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com4/11/2008 9:02:09 AM If you’re visiting a theater and tired of the same old movie clichés, conventional wisdom would point you to the independent movie selection. However, a string on indiewood flicks–most recently The Visitor (opening tonight)–are caving in on their own “indie” clichés. Like rogue environmentalists tracking an invasive species in an Appalachian creek bed, we digest their ways and spew out some indiewood movie pitches of our own. As a palette cleanser, we talk to Carson Mell. We formed a crush on him last week watching Wholphin DVD No. 5. His sharp wit and creativity are on display in his short animation, Chonto. filmcouch-65 (Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store and an episode will download each Friday) Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/blogs/paul/archive/2008/4/11/27208.aspx Post By: paul
Post To: paul on spout.com
Post Date: 4/11/2008 9:01:06 AM
Body: If you’re visiting a theater and tired of the same old movie clichés, conventional wisdom would point you to the independent movie selection. However, a string on indiewood flicks–most recently The Visitor (opening tonight)–are caving in on their own “indie” clichés. Like rogue environmentalists tracking an invasive species in an Appalachian creek bed, we digest their ways and spew out some indiewood movie pitches of our own. As a palette cleanser, we talk to Carson Mell. We formed a crush on him last week watching Wholphin DVD No. 5. His sharp wit and creativity are on display in his short animation, Chonto. filmcouch-65 (Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store and an episode will download each Friday) Originally posted on:SpoutBlog » Paul Moore
]]>Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:01:06 GMTpaulpaul on spout.com4/11/2008 9:01:06 AM If you’re visiting a theater and tired of the same old movie clichés, conventional wisdom would point you to the independent movie selection. However, a string on indiewood flicks–most recently The Visitor (opening tonight)–are caving in on their own “indie” clichés. Like rogue environmentalists tracking an invasive species in an Appalachian creek bed, we digest their ways and spew out some indiewood movie pitches of our own. As a palette cleanser, we talk to Carson Mell. We formed a crush on him last week watching Wholphin DVD No. 5. His sharp wit and creativity are on display in his short animation, Chonto. filmcouch-65 (Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store and an episode will download each Friday) Originally posted on:SpoutBlog » Paul Moore http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/professor/MemberTagFilms.aspxprofessor
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]]>Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:40:32 GMT1032129Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/deportation/MemberTagFilms.aspxdeportation
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