The Visitor

Director: Thomas McCarthy

Cast: Richard Jenkins, Haaz Sleiman, Danai Gurira, Hiam Abbass

(Overture Films, 2007) Rated: PG-13

US theatrical release date: 11 April 2008 (Limited release)

UK theatrical release date: 4 July 2008 (General release)

[17 April 2008]

by Cynthia Fuchs

PopMatters Film and TV Editor

Phantoms

Tender and detailed, Thomas McCarthy's movie features beautiful performances, but is grounded in a fundamental difficulty, that Walter's education is achieved by his engagement with brown and black people.

The review says that the “problem” with the movie is that “his education” in music is from “brown and black” people?  That’s the problem with the movie?  What arrogance!  This reviewer is not worth a minute of anyone’s time.

Comment by Scott from SLC, UT — May 30, 2008 @ 5:42 pm

This review hits at the heart of the movie. The movie’s heart is not the emotion of love, but a message which is contrived by the writers and producers.  The movie is obviously an “invented” scheme to push even more forced “politically correct acceptance” of sneaking, thieving illegal aliens by those who have worked so hard to make this country great ... by legal, HONEST and worthy means.  And those that bash the reviewer for the reviews’ honesty in this matter have been successfully brainwashed by the media.

Comment by Ilona from Bethlehem, PA — June 3, 2008 @ 9:42 am

This reviewer followed Walter’s revitalization, but not the other main theme, Tarek’s plight.  “The Visitor” takes great pains to make us sympathetic to Tarek, then he’s in the detention center wailing “I did nothing wrong!” Of course he’s lying.  He came here without permission.  He knows it.  Walter knows it, but says nothing.  (Why?)

Did the reviewer fall asleep and miss this scene?

Comment by Nosfer Atu from Greenich Villich — June 24, 2008 @ 8:17 pm

Add a comment

Please enter your name and a valid email address. Your email address will not be displayed. It is required only to prevent comment spam.

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?

Please enter the sequence of letters and numbers you see in the image above. Do not include any spaces.

Recent Film

More Film

In bold are PopMatters Picks, the best new films.