Paul's Talk

Oldboy

Brilliant!!!
...and the last soundtrack is so cool!!!
The Last Waltz...
I recommend this movie to everyone

The Visitor

The Visitor is an admirable exercise in great character-based drama storytelling. It doesn't have to be the most original thing ever, but it should be carefully and sincerely crafted and very very human. That is exactly what we get here. At the beginning, we are introduced to Walter Vale (Jenkins), a college professor who has completely lost his passion for his profession and more importantly life in general (the film does a great job of setting the mood to match his demeanor). On a return visit to New York, he discovers a couple has taken up residency in his own apartment thanks to some swindler. Unexpectedly, Walter decides to allow them to stay in his apartment, and through this decision he is linked to them and the circumstances they are involved in (many which you do not see coming) for the entire film. Eventually the effect they have on Walter's life proves to be truly profound.

As the movie plays out we are treated to some fantastic performances. Haaz Sleiman's performance as the high-spirited and good-natured Tarek was truly memorable and heartfelt. This unknown has major potential. Hiam Abbass is also good as his mother, conveying timidity and forcefulness to the right degree given her circumstances. And Richard Jenkins gives a very strong performance as Walter. He's equal parts shaky, detached (in a good way though...because of his characters demeanor), sincere, and most importantly human (aka BELIEVABLE!). One scene that he truly shines in near the end of the film serves as a revelatory depiction of just how much Tarek and his mother have truly changed Walter's life. I won't ruin the experience but it is an eye-opener!...if by that point you didn't really believe their effect on his life had been a powerful one. Jenkins definitely deserved his Oscar nod for this.

Multiple themes are touched on in the film, most notably immigration, post-9/11 sentiments, second-chances and redemption. This movie serves as a reminder of the goodness in all people. Its heartfelt message of redemption through chance circumstances is universal to all human beings, and the ending is one of the most subtly powerful ones I've seen in a long time. The film works on numerous levels and is simultaneously sad and uplifting! Definitely one of the best of '08.

Revolutionary Road