The Visitor (**1/2)

Richard Jenkins gives an Oscar worthy performance as the gentle and soft spoken, grief-stricken Professor Walter Vale in this small but powerful film written and Directed by Tom McCarthy, the busy character actor who has the same credits for 2003's critically acclaimed "The Station Agent".

Walter, mid-50's and recently widowed, makes his home in Connecticut but has a 2nd apartment in New York where he travels for a business conference to present a paper he is no deservedly credited for writing. Upon his arrival into his apartment he is quickly surprised to realize that a young couple has made it their home. As it turns out, a mistake made by a mutual scheming acquaintance trying to make a buck, which has now created this uncomfortable situation. Walter generously offers his place to stay for the night to Syrian, Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and his girlfriend Zainab (Danai Gurira), from Senegal. The immigrant couple makes a modest living as she sells homemade jewelry while he plays the African drums, which catches the eye of the music loving Walter, his late wife was a renowned pianist. Tarek's charm and infectious personality warms Walter up to him enough to take drum lessons despite the skeptical yet respectful Zainab. As each strum on the drum pounds the greater the admiration for one another grows.

On the surface, it's a simple story of an unlikely friendship formed due to the unfortunate circumstances they find themselves in. What lies beneath is a very deep heart tugging relationship that hits you from many different angles between the dynamics of boyfriend to girlfriend, brother to brother, friend to friend, Mother to Son once Tarek's mother (Hiam Abbass, who gives a truthful and moving performance) from Michigan enters the piece, Daughter-in-Law to Mother-in-Law and any other combination of the aforementioned possible as the film delves deep into the harsh reality of a post 9/11 United States and it's struggles with illegal aliens and possible deportation. Emotions run deep regardless of what side of the fence you are on and regardless of the black and white views of the Government and illegal immigration, the story here isn't as much about rules and regulations is it is about being a human being and where the heart decides what is right or wrong.

In only his 2nd film Directing, MCarthy is already showing his admiration and ability to tap into human emotion, like most actors turned directors his films seem to be a magnificent character study with multiple layers of love, pain, grief, fear and courage. His screenplay is likely to get the attention of Academy voters and earn him a well deserved nomination, that is of course if enough eyeballs see it. It's a small art house film with a limited release and it's buzz will mostly be wrapped around a terrific performance by Jenkins but if enough word of mouth get around this is the very kind of film the Academy recognizes in the ever competitive Original Screenplay category.