Terminal, The  (2004)

Starring: Tom Hanks, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Stanley Tucci
Director: Steven Spielberg

Rating: PG-13

Distributor: DreamWorks SKG

Release Date: 06.18.04

Review Posted: 06.22.04

Spoilers: None

By Rachel Sexton

Director Steven Spielberg’s recent work has been reverting to the light, warm fare of his early career. This means that the films are entertaining but risk-taking is absent. That combination has served Catch Me If You Can well. The same thing can be said about The Terminal, a solidly enjoyable comedy that is often genuinely funny, mostly thanks to another stellar lead performance by Tom Hanks.

The Terminal is loosely based on a true story. Victor Navorski (Hanks) arrives in America from Eastern Europe to find that there has been a revolution in his country while he was in the air, meaning the country listed on his passport no longer exists. With no valid passport, he cannot leave the airport and step foot on U.S. soil. As he sets up a makeshift life in the airport terminal, he meets a beautiful flight attendant (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and also plays matchmaker for a couple of airport employees (Diego Luna and Zoe Saldana). The machinations of a lead security officer (Stanley Tucci), the closest thing the film has to a villain, keep Victor there longer than necessary, but Victor proves a hardy spirit.

The script here is quite good. The structure of the plot seems well-paced and has many memorable scenes. There is a nice blend of comedy, drama, and romance as well. For example, the hilarity of Victor’s first scene in which he is told his situation and doesn’t speak English contrasts nicely with the following scene in which he sees television reports of the crisis in his homeland, which is poignant because his pain and confusion speaks volumes. The central concern of whether Victor will leave the terminal is smoothly developed alongside the two subplots I mentioned above. The matchmaking particularly brings a smile to the face. The ending is also satisfying. If you notice, the last spoken word in the film is “home,” a comparison to Spielberg’s classic E.T. that isn’t a stretch.

One other thing that needs mentioning is Spielberg’s direction because there are a couple of touches that stand out. The editing here is good, one of the main reasons the film feels engaging while being mostly set in one location, and the cinematography wows a couple of times. Spielberg also uses superimposition to dissolve in one brief montage, which works well. There are also clear representations of the way airport security has changed since 9/11. This makes the film feel even more authentic. Of the production values, the costumes and music are good, while the set astounds. It’s an actual 3-story airport terminal that features working restaurants and stores.

The film’s range of acting is self-explanatory in a way. Hanks has become the most reliably exceptional actor working today. He takes an accent here that I don’t think he’s done before and he does it well. Catherine Zeta-Jones does good supporting work here with a character that some audience members won’t necessarily like, and Tucci does well, too. I also like Diego Luna’s cheeky charm.

Tom Hanks’ great lead performance in The Terminal combines with a good story, production values, and strong direction. Spielberg needs to take more risks with his films in the future but that doesn’t stop this film from being an enjoyable comedy. The humor works extremely well and that means a lot in films today.

Film Rating: êêêê  (out of 5)  |  Grade: B+

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