Hanks runs the show in an enjoyable film

Rating: 7/10 (6 February 2005)

The Terminal may possibly be one of Tom Hanks' best performances. True, it doesn't have nearly as much depth as the brilliant Philadelphia or the wonderfully moving The Green Mile. The Terminal is a simple film, based on true events. It doesn't sound like the most interesting film in the world; "man gets stuck in airport" doesn't sound very appealing, and basically that is the whole story, with a bit of romance thrown in for fun. But with names like Stephen Spielberg and Tom Hanks attached to it, The Terminal was always going to be a winner. Hanks plays Viktor Navorksi, who arrives in New York but then finds he isn't able to leave the confines of the JFK airport. There is a very moving scene when Navorski watches what is happening in his country on the airport monitors and is clearly very distressed. It's not all doom and gloom though, there are some great comedy moments, with Hanks delivering perfect comic timing, particularly in the scenes where the airport officials are explaining their rules and regulations. These are the best scenes in the film. I was in awe of how impressive Hanks was as Naborksi. Not for one minute do you not believe he is a pure bred Iranian, it is simply fantastic, with the accent spot on. Although the problem with Hanks being so good showed what a mistake it was casting Catheine Zeta-Jones opposite him. It is fair to say that Tom Hanks totally acted Zeta-Jones off the screen-and then some. That's not to say she is a bad actress(her Oscar for Chicago proves this). But when put alongside a pro like Tom Hanks, her inability and inexperience as an actress really shows. The chemistry between them is almost non-existent. There are a few tender moments as you watch an affection develop between them, but this is totally Hanks' movie and he carries it off superbly. It is mostly shot in JFK airport but is a lot more interesting than you might think, showing you just how much work goes into running it. The ending is very touching but you might switch it off having wanted a bit more. It won't go down in history as one of Spielberg's greatest efforts, but all the same it is a very enjoyable couple of hours.