The Terminal

UK Release: 3rd September 2004

Watched on TV: Friday 26th/ Tuesday 30th August 2011

Rating: 12A

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Runtime: 2hrs 8mins

Tagline: Life is waiting.

My Plot Summary: Viktor Navorski, a man from an Eastern European country arrives in New York. However after he left his country war broke out. Suddenly Navorski is a man without a country - or one that the U.S. cannot recognise, thus he is denied entrance to the U.S. However, he also can't be deported, so he is told by the Security Manager that he has to remain in the airport until his status can be fixed. 

Navorski doesn't speak English very well, so he cannot talk to or understand anyone. But he somehow adapts and sets up residence in the airport, makes friends with some of the people who work in the airport and is attracted to a flight attendant who he frequently bumps into. Can Navorski ever find a way back to his country or be allowed into New York?

My Review: Firstly let’s cut straight to the nitty gritty: Tom Hanks... Wow. He really is a super actor as this film proves. Castaway, brilliant, Big, great, The Terminal, just wow. He completely pulls off the european/russian accent of the fictional country of Krakozhia. You empathise with his character throughout the film too - who doesn’t sometimes feel all alone, trapped and helpless. I’ve definitely seen him in a whole new light thanks to this beautiful film. 

And the great performances don’t stop there the legend that is Stanley Tucci plays the airport official that wants nothing more than to get Navorski out of his airport. This makes for some excellent funny scenes which, as you would expect from Tucci, are sharp and believable. But he also adds some depth to the character, even making you feel sympathise with him. Catherine Zeta Jones is decent, although a little less like-able, but, again, you sort-of understand her mindset. But what makes the film as heart-warming as it is are the friends Navorski makes along the way. Zoe Saldana, Diego Luna, Kumar Pallana, Barry Shabaka Henley - all well played, warm and genuinely funny.

Steven Spielberg’s touching film is a little unexpected of the usually action/adventure orientated director, but pleasantly so. Naysayers may have felt it a little cheesy, but if you remember it is based on a true story then it becomes even more incredible.

More people should know of (and watch) this little gem of a film!

Score: 8/10