Reviewed December 20, 2004
This is a film with a not very inviting premise - who wants to spend two hours in an airline terminal? Yet two hours in a terminal with Tom Hanks playing the role of Victor Naborski is definitely the best airport experience you are ever likely to have.
What happens in this film? A man (Tom Hanks) arrives at a New York international airport from some obscure Eastern European country. His country's government has been overthrown while he was en route and by the time he arrives his passport and visa are no longer valid. He cannot enter the USA and he cannot go back to his own country. He must stay in the international lounge until the situation is resolved. "The Terminal" is the story of how this man makes a life for himself in the airport, wins the support of terminal staff and resolves his own problems as well as those of people he meets during his enforced stay.
There are echoes in this film of another Hanks film, Castaway, in that the main character is isolated in a completely strange environment. In Castaway, Hanks has to carry much of the story with his actions alone since there is no-one for him to talk to on his deserted island. This is true also of The Terminal since Hanks' character is unable to speak English until he has been in the terminal for some time. I wouldn't describe Tom Hanks as "riveting" or "electrifying" but he manages in both cases to carry off very difficult roles and infuse his characters with humanity enough to make them appealing and interesting.
Not a great film, but a good film with an inventive premise, interestingly explored. I recommend it.
(Review by Brian Horne - all rights reserved.)
