Is Hollywood Running Out of Ideas for Good Films?????

Rating: Null/10 (20 June 2005)

In one of the few memorable lines of dialogue from "The Terminal," the character played by Catherine Zeta-Jones asks Tom Hanks's character Victor, "Just tell me the truth. Did you escape from an institution?" The same question might be posed to the screenwriters, director, and producers of the lackluster film "The Terminal."
First, we have the setting of the film, an airline terminal that is closer to a shopping mall than an airport. Then, we have an airport security crew that is no more competent than the hotel casino staff of "Ocean's Eleven." Then, we have a gestapo-like security administrator (played by Stanley Tucci) who detains a decent man at the airport and forces him to live for months in the airline terminal. Viktor then proceeds to "move into" the terminal, tearing apart the permanent seating; turning off the electricity; and reconstructing whole sections of the airport with his skills as a builder and contractor.
Was this story supposed to be funny? Was this film intended as one of Steven Spielberg's parables and "feel good" films? The premise was not funny, and the response elicited was not heart-warming. The one potential breath of fresh air in the film was the character of the flight attendant, as played by Zeta-Jones. But even her character was not likable. After befriending Viktor, she then apparently opts for an adulterous affair with a silver-haired pilot, whose face we never see.
In sum, the main idea for this film was preposterous, and the film was not very well executed. It was not a realistic portrayal of the JFK airport, including the personnel, the travelers, and the security team. The plot lacked realism, humor, and depth of characterization. Based upon this film experience, I would conjecture that Hollywood is struggling to come up with vibrant ideas for films. In the past year, I have seen better films that were made for cable with much smaller budgets and much more artistry than the shallow film experience of "The Terminal."