'Visitor' comes calling with a basket of delight

By CARLA MEYER
THE SACRAMENTO BEE

last updated: July 03, 2008 02:09:31 PM

In "The Visitor," a man finds a stranger in the bathtub of his apartment. And she's more upset than he is.

Her reaction makes perfect sense in a film in which people behave the way they might in real life rather than the way they usually do in movies.

Joy exists alongside tragedy, and lovely relationships blossom under trying circumstances in this tale of an emotionally stagnant man (Richard Jenkins) rejuvenated by his encounter with a young immigrant couple (Danai Gurira and Haaz Sleiman).

Director/screenwriter Tom McCarthy's ("The Station Agent") film provides an overdue showcase for Jenkins, a veteran actor best known as the deadpan -- and dead -- father on "Six Feet Under."

Jenkins starts "The Visitor" free of sarcasm and mostly free of expression. A widower, Walter barely registers emotion, even upon discovering that the New York apartment he rarely visits has been rented out illegally to Tarek (Sleiman) and his girlfriend, Zainab (Gurira).

Believing Walter is an intruder, Tarek reacts protectively. Zainab is mortified, then angry that they are being ejected from an apartment rented in good faith. But the confrontation sparks something in Walter. He lets Tarek and Zainab, respectful after the initial showdown, stay in the apartment for a while.

McCarthy is a marvelous storyteller and gives all the lead actors moments to shine.

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