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An eastern immigrant finds himself stranded in JFK airport, and must take up temporary residence there.
Tom Hanks: Viktor Navorski
One of the wonders of Steven Spielberg is that he can take a story, in this case written by Andrew Niccol and Sacha Gervasi. Combined with a wittily conceived Screenplay from Sacha Gervasi and Jeff Nathanson, inspired by a true story, and set in a unique place with whimsical circumstances, surrounding a likeable character. Spielberg gives us his offering for 2004; The simple yet sweet The Terminal with Tom Hanks reprising an isolated role not seen since Zemeckis's Cast Away in 2000. The Terminal is distantly similar and loveable in it's own right courtesy movie magic provided by Steven Spielberg.
The Terminal boasts a talented yet humbling array of characters thanks to it's clever casting and aspiring choices.
Tom Hanks plays the protagonist and hero Viktor Navorski, a man from Krakozhia, a country with war brewing and newly acquired social problems, yet thanks to unlucky circumstances Viktor becomes trapped at a terminal as he tries to enter New York for a personal venture concerning a family motive.
Thus he meets an assemble of characters as what turns into a simple waiting procedure becomes a sixth month slog stuck in isolation...
Stanley Tucci plays the newly promoted dick Commissioner Frank Dixon, the guy whom audiences love to hate, and Tucci pulls it off effortlessly. Sometimes following the rules isn't the way you help people, or make friends.
Catherine Zeta-Jones also appears to give us a love interest for Hanks, yet what turns out to be a potential love proves to be a 39 year old gorgeous woman with no brain regarding the right man for her. She waits for a married man to come to her in a deluded sense, something which isn't going to happen. Quite honestly and many may agree, Victor is just too good for her. Amelia Warren whom Zeta-Jones plays is a character who has a choice but fails to make the right one, which is sad in it's own personal way.
Chi McBride, Diego Luna, Zoe Saldana, Barry Shabaka Henley, Kumar Pallana...All prove to be invaluable cast additions and really provide the support Hanks needs. Tom Hanks doesn't necessarily need support but his character in his lonely sort of prison does. Viktor, is a man whom is friendly, skilful, and invaluable in terms of honesty and being resolutely good. He is inspiring and that is what everyone is drawn to as they realise his predicament.
''Eat to bite... bite to eat, bite to eat, bite to eat, bitetoeat bitetoeat bitetoeatbitetoeatbitetoeatbitetoeat...''
The Terminal sometimes feels like John Williams, behind most Spielberg projects, has been watching Chocolat all day. It's quirky and addictive in it's own simple way, where people skip and re-choice in it's gentle melody.
In fact it has a sort of Jewish aura surrounding it's vibrant conception which helps warm audiences and indeed warm their hearts with joyful vibrance.
Another aspect The Terminal overjoys us film-lovers with and indeed shows Spielberg's homages in little offerings, is the references he makes to other classic cult films and TV series. When you see a swordfish prop hanging up in Mulray's office, Spielberg is making a sly nod towards Polanski's Chinatown. Saldana's INS agent is a "trekkie", and claims to go to conventions dressed as Yeoman Rand, which ironically later she appears in the reboot Star Trek. Friends, The Outer Limits, and The Twilight Zone also get brief nods.
Overall, The Terminal is a loving story portraying a man's struggle towards something so simple. His right to visit a place and fulfil a father's last wish and promise concerning a signature and a certain Jazz player.
It's wonderful to watch a film which shows humanity and creative shining through rather than stereotypical meanderings. Nothing portrayed is squandered, some scenes, focus upon humour while others border on serious but for never too long. This is a realistic film yet it's also a feel good venture for audiences and us to warm to.
In fact, The Terminal is one you can watch upon numerous occasions and never tire from it's straight forward story and glimmering message regarding hope. The meticulous constraint and relentless parody of a man never losing sight of overcoming another man whom is out of touch with anything outside the rulebook. Human nature, numbers, paper-work, and moral obligations do not always mix. In fact slight echoes of our World becoming reminiscent of Gilliam's Brazil come to mind, obviously not in an extreme sense but one where paper becomes more important than the individual.
The Terminal may not be Spielberg's best, or Tom Hanks best although he does a very convincing accent, but it sure is a worth-while watch that will keep you enthralled start till finish, with characters whom are memorable and lovable in equal measures.
''I am going home.''
8/10
