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