The Visitor is a quiet, deeply moving portrait of a solitary life finding its rhythm again. Walter, a widowed economics professor who is merely going through the motions of existence, has his world upside down when he finds an undocumented young couple living in his Manhattan apartment. Thomas McCarthy writes with a restraint that never leans into melodrama, making the film's silent, burning protest against the cold bureaucracy of the immigration detention system feel all the more devastating (which is relevant even to this day). Richard Jenkins was nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars for his subtle but incredible performance. Verdict: Highly recommended

Very good independent movie. Rewatched 3/31/25.

While I am reviewing this movie fourteen years after it came out it feels as important today as it did back then. The main character in the story is a professor who seems to be living a cold and sheltered life. He has few interactions with others and clearly struggles when he does. We never really know his backstory as it is probably unimportant. We know what we see: a man that is cold on the outside. As the movie unfolds and he meets people that would not normally be part of his world we see a slow transformation into something more. I think where this movie really excels is how it portrays a series of characters and gives the viewer (and the lead) a chance to show empathy towards them. The key is to not be heavy-handed and I think the movie pulled this off well. The situations were presented and the viewer is available to do with them as they wish. follow me at https://IHATEBadMovies.com or facebook IHATEBadMovies