The Terminal is a 2004 production from Amblin Entertainment. The Steven Spielberg directed movie was written by Sacha Gervasi and Jeff Nathanson, with Tom Hanks portraying the main role. Alongside Hanks, we get performances from the likes of Catherine Zeta-Jones, Zoe Saldana, Stanley Tucci and Diego Luna. The movie scores a 7.4/10 on IMDb and received a 55 Metascore.
The Story
I was unsure whether to call this movie comedy or drama as Spielberg seems to position the film right in-between. On the one hand, we got the dramatic story of a man stuck at the airport for months. While on the other hand, that man seems to be having fun together with his new friends, all of which are funny characters.
The story in The Terminal seems quite simple but I feel like it works on many levels. Especially nearing the end of the movie, when we finally get to hear why Viktor was travelling to New York. The long-teased can of peanuts was opened and we got a beautiful backstory for our main protagonist. An arc that to my satisfaction was completed with that retrieval of the final band member’s signature.
One of my complaints was the fact that Amelia ended up going back to her old boyfriend. I felt like she was making strides to be better and would end up Viktor. Maybe I am to wrong expect that from a story like this but I felt like it destroyed her arc and therefore her character’s importance.
The Characters
Viktor Narvoski
Our main protagonist is an interesting man, to say the least. Perhaps it the fact that he isn’t American but he has such a nice personality. He is unknowing but helpful to everyone he comes across. He can keep his spirits high during tough times. All around he is a great man, complemented by an exceptional Tom Hanks performance. The way he can convey emotion is and always has been one of the best in the business. I was also impressed with Hanks performance regarding the Russian accent and not being able to talk English.
Enrique Cruz / Mulroy / Gupta
The three musketeers of airport employment. Their characters are even simpler than Viktor but they provide a great addition to the story. They give Viktor some much-needed food and interactions. Most scenes with these guys are such a joy to watch, like Viktor going to the x-ray because Gupta thinks he is a spy for the CIA or KGB. I also think the love story between Enrique and Dolores was a nice addition to the story, although it did feel strange that he never talked to her himself before proposing.
Another notable moment from these guys is the scene where Gupta runs on the runway to make sure Viktor can get his final signature, although that means Gupta will be deported back to India and sent to prison. A beautiful moment as we see the formerly suspicious friend giving everything away to help him. Followed by the scene where the whole airport, including the guards, are cheering him on to go outside. It was a magnificent sight to see.
The Production
It ends up being a quite simple movie with a better storyline than expected. We rarely leave the airport but it manages to capture the atmosphere most people who have flown before have experienced. Furthermore, I think the writing elevated this movie. The movie was able to get me laughing while at times also proving a hard pill to swallow.