Random Thoughts: The Terminal

8/10



Steven Spielberg continues a light streak after the jazzy, superior Catch Me If You Can with The Terminal, an engaging dramedy with unexpected warmth. Tom Hanks stars as Viktor Navarski, a man from a fictional Russian country that has just been overthrown due to a military coup. He finds himself in a NYC airport with an invalid passport and useless papers. Stanley Tucci as some airport higher-up forbids him from flying or leaving the terminal, thus making Hanks an airport Cast Away. In his many months there, he mingles in the lives of airport employees including fixing up coworkers as well as creating a mini-home in an unfinished gate. Catherine Zeta-Jones is thrown in the mix as Amelia, a flakey flight attendant whom tells Hanks that she is bad for him. Her optimism draws him in despite her telling him that she has the worst luck with men. (Amelia = America. Ah, symbolism.) Hanks is front and center like always, and a reminder of his ability moreso than any other actor working to carry a movie. This obviously isn't his best work, but its a memorable turn. Zeta-Jones is also good in a change of pace performance from her usual bitch, though some people can't tolerate her character (the Christina Ricci in Monster sydrome?) Tucci is good, but his character starts out interesting but becomes more and more one dimensional as the film progresses. Spielberg lets the story tell itself, as his direction almost disappears (and I don't mean that in a bad way.) Frequent Spielberg collaboraters Jamiz Kaminski (sp?) and John Williams provide solid cinematography and a flowing score. Diego Luna, Zoe Saldana and The Royal Tenenbaums' Pagoda round out the cast. The latter is a great scene-stealer, getting some of the film's best lines. Story is from Andrew Niccol, creator of Gattaca, Simone and The Truman Show. All four of these films involve someone observing someone from afar, which is just a little trivia. The Terminal could've been cut by about 10 or 15 minutes, but there's a surprisingly emotional scene towards the end that almost had me in tears. Its a solid crowdpleaser for the crowd not interested in big action.