MOVIE REVIEW | The Visitor (2007)

In a nutshell, Bored & Dangerous says: “There’s something about McCarthy’s script, and the performances that stop The Visitor from ever disappearing up its own ass.”

“He was a good man, a good person. It’s not fair! We are not just helpless children!”

A month or two ago, director and writer Tom McCarthy walked away with a Best Picture Oscar for his movie Spotlight. I loved Spotlight and would have been totally fine with it winning every category it was nominated in. Especially since that would have meant beating the totally over rated The Revenant. I also love his directorial debut, The Station Agent, and have heard good things about his 2011 movie, Win Win. And now that I’ve just watching Tom McCarthy’s The Visitor, I know I need to see everything he’s ever made.

Walter (Richard Jenkins) is lonely and aimless after the death of his wife. He barley keeps busy by teaching one college class a semester in Connecticut, while claiming to be working hard on writing a book. He’s called out for his aimlessness when the college insists he goes to New York to give a presentation based on a paper he co-authored. He reluctantly gives in and heads back the New York apartment he shared with his wife, but hasn’t set foot in for years. It’s been so long, a shonky conman has claimed to be the landlord and rented it out to illegal immigrants, Syrian Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and his African girlfriend, Zainab (Danai Gurira).

***2015 RECAP*** MOVIE REVIEW | Bone Tomahawk (2015)

“In civilised towns, you look a man direct in the face when you talk to him.”

There’s nothing wrong with B grade, exploitation cinema when it’s done right and it’s genuine. I have a problem with B grade, exploitation cinema done ironically. I like Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rogriguez, but I think their Grindhouse project is nothing more than a self indulgent wank.   If you have the talent and resources to make something well and high end, intentionally making it look shitty is kind of pissing in the faces of legit B grade film makers who are simply making the most of what they’ve got. The upside to things like Grindhouse is, I’m more aware of the concept of B grade, exploitation cinema than I once was. Which means I’m more aware of movies like Bone Tomahawk.

In post Civil War old west, bandit Purvis (David Arquett) and his partner rob and murder someone in the desert. When their getaway takes them through an Indian burial ground, it leads to spooky shit and the partner being killed. Cut to the peaceful frontier town that Sherriff Franklin Hunt (Kurt Russell) is determined to keep peaceful. Purvis arrives and starts a ruckus at the local saloon. A ruckus that Hunt supresses with a bullet to Purvis’ leg and a night in a jail cell. Calling local doctor Samantha O’Dwyer (Lili Simmons) to heal the gunshot wound, Hunt leaves her and the convalescing Purvis under the watch of Deputy Nick (Evan Jonigkeit).

MOVIE REVIEW | Bone Tomahawk (2015)

“In civilised towns, you look a man direct in the face when you talk to him.”

There’s nothing wrong with B grade, exploitation cinema when it’s done right and it’s genuine. I have a problem with B grade, exploitation cinema done ironically. I like Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rogriguez, but I think their Grindhouse project is nothing more than a self indulgent wank.   If you have the talent and resources to make something well and high end, intentionally making it look shitty is kind of pissing in the faces of legit B grade film makers who are simply making the most of what they’ve got. The upside to things like Grindhouse is, I’m more aware of the concept of B grade, exploitation cinema than I once was. Which means I’m more aware of movies like Bone Tomahawk.

In post Civil War old west, bandit Purvis (David Arquett) and his partner rob and murder someone in the desert. When their getaway takes them through an Indian burial ground, it leads to spooky shit and the partner being killed. Cut to the peaceful frontier town that Sherriff Franklin Hunt (Kurt Russell) is determined to keep peaceful. Purvis arrives and starts a ruckus at the local saloon. A ruckus that Hunt supresses with a bullet to Purvis’ leg and a night in a jail cell. Calling local doctor Samantha O’Dwyer (Lili Simmons) to heal the gunshot wound, Hunt leaves her and the convalescing Purvis under the watch of Deputy Nick (Evan Jonigkeit).