| Overall Grade: |
A+ |
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| Story: |
A+ |
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| Acting: |
A+ |
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| Direction: |
A+ |
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|
| Visuals: |
B+ |
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Sublime, Honest, Well Told
by Portnoy (movies profile)
Jun 30, 2008
14
of
18 people found this review helpful
Written and Directed by Thomas McCarthy - The Visitor is gorgeously made on every level including the music, the editing, and the gentle way the story is told. Everyone in this film just gets it right. One would guess there was magic during the shooting of this film.
One might also have imagined Jeff Bridges or Bill Murray playing the lead. And they would have been wonderful but then so is Jenkins. In fact, he makes the film that much more real. The balance and blending of his character against the others is rare film chemistry. Haaz Sleiman who plays Tarek does a really good job. But when Hiam Abbass walks into the film, the movie jumps into another gear.
The Visitor is beautifully engaging from the beginning. You meet a middle-aged professor who is failing at piano lessons and firing all of his teachers. This is as much as I will reveal. (I hate talking plot or reading reviews with too much plot coverage) The movie is intelligent, yet not pretentious. In fact, its honesty is why this reviewer is so excited.
If you're on the fence - see The Visitor. If you're looking for Superhero, 21, Drillbit Taylor, or something with zero to minus-zero substance, this film isn't for you. But then, maybe you ought to try some substance once in a while. Who knows, you might really love it as much as I did. |
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