A Moving and Touching Gem

"The Visitor"
Starring: Richard Jenkins, Haaz Sleiman, Danai Jekesai Guirira
***.5/****

"The Visitor" is an honest film about a man breaking out of his shell at the age of 62 and experiencing a re-awakening of his soul. Richard Jenkins who has played the traditional supporting actor for most of his career finally gets his own role to show audience how good he actually is.

Jenkins plays career Economics Professor Walter Vale, a 20 year man at Connecticut College. Walter is a widower who has recently taken up piano lessons to fill the voids of time in his day. Walter also likes to drink wine, and not grant late turn-in assignments from his students. One could say this is a crusty old man, mad at the world or even at himself.

Walter is soon assigned to go to New York and speak at a conference on behalf of a paper he co-wrote with another colleague. Walter sets himself up in his own apartment, one he hasn't stayed at for years. Instead of checking in for a few days and flying back home, Walter is startled by an immigrant couple living in his apartment.

The couple agrees to leave Walter and his apartment alone after he proves hes the rightful owner. They had been given a place to stay by a friend not knowing Walter or any tenant would soon re-appear.

Walter soon opens his home back to the couple, not knowing the effect they will have eventually have on him. Having failed with the piano, Tarek teaches Walter how to play the African drum, Walter takes a deep likening to this as he and Tarek bond over music and the fact they they're truly enjoying each other as friends in a post 9/11 world.

A misunderstanding eventually occurs that puts Tarek in a detention center. The film then explores upon the treatments of immigrants after 9/11. While the film isn't preachy, the messages are clear, but aren't over-bearing.

The characters are real, genuine, decent, and caring. Walter goes through changes, subtle at first, but life changing and re-assuring by the end. This is what makes "The Visitor" not only a film about character depth and the world today, but about finding ones identity, meaning, and place in the world.

A Flawed and Dark Masterpiece

"The Dark Knight"
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhall, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine
****/****

Director Christopher Nolan has once again set the bar for a genre, he did it back with "Memento", and he does it again with this groundbreaking sequel to "Batman Begins." I have to come out and say it right now, "The Dark Knight" is a special film, if you're one of the people that was too young to experience "Star Wars" or any of those epics, the "Dark Knight" has brought cinema back to that moment of sheer wonder and spectacle.

What makes the film so special are the characters and the respect that the script and the direction has given them. With an A-list cast like this, everyone delves deep into their respected character and gives 110% throughout the film.

Christian Bale is back as the caped crusader, also as Bruce Wayne, the billionaire playboy who is still in love with attorney and friend Rachel Dawes played by Maggie Gyllenhall, who has easily stepped in place for Katie Holmes this time around. Aaron Eckhart plays District Attorney Harvey Dent, the so-called White Knight of Gotham. Dent has gained respect from the people of Gotham, but not the criminals and gangsters, he is putting most of them away behind bars.

The biggest and brightest addition is none other than the late Heath Ledger. Playing the role of The Joker to the max, he adds menace, humor, and the haunting ability to make you wonder how this terrific actor pulled this epic performance off. When Ledger's creation and portrayal in on-screen, the audience cannot in any way take thier eyes off of this man, he demands attention in no way that I've seen a performance demand in years. Sorry Jack, but Ledger's Joker has surpassed Nicholson's in every way possible. Leger's mannerisms and facial expressions, not to mention his voice, cannot escape my head, that is literally all I have thought about. This man is an "Agent of Chaos", as he puts it. His greasy green hair, scarred face, and yellow teeth add to the psychotic derangement of his character. He wants Gotham to burn in every way, and its hard for the audience to know what he'll do next.

I would also like to mention that the city of Gotham actually feels like a character, in "Batman Begins" it was just a simple backdrop. In this film, the city itself is breathing, a home for corruption, evil, and insanity. The cinematography welcomes wide shots of buildings, skyscrapers and anything to make the city feel more alive. When we see Gotham at night, its truly beautiful, even if The Joker is prowling the streets.

All of the performances are first rate. Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon is superb, he shares as much screen time as Bale's character. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman are also exceptional, serving as mentors of advice for Bruce Wayne in his darkest hours.

The film is large in scope, complexity, and plot. While it's not a hard plot to follow, it can be difficult to juggle the many sub-plots that are going on. Kudos to the tight script written by Chris Nolan and his brother.

The film is about good and evil, also about the morals of 3 good and honest men looking to stop a crazy killer with no real plan. The film echoes "Heat" and "The Departed" the most, mostly for its layered plot, and story about two men on the brink of colliding with each other. Those two men being Batman and the Joker.

It truly is a dangerous and intense thrill ride for 152 minutes, the film will likely leave viewers drained and tired afterward, but the film does fly by. What separates "The Dark Knight" from ALL the rest of the comic book films is the seriousness brought to the story. The complex nature of the characters, and what motivates them.

If you want to get into award season conversations already, this film should garner nominations for supporting actor, cinematography, makeup, original score, and directing.

I titled this article "A Flawed and Dark Masterpiece", there are two flaws in my opinion, the ferry scene at the end seemed out of place and unnecessary, but I will learn to get over it because the rest of them film is pitch perfect. Also, Harvey Dent's character arc seemed a bit rushed, but nothing to drastic.

Dark, haunting, and unforgettable, the "Dark Knight" will stay with you for weeks, as well as Heath Ledger's performance which will stick with you for a life time.