Paying For It - Number 2 (Oscar Edition)

Running through the list of nominations in the six main categories for this year's Oscars, I noted that there were a couple of movies that I wouldn't be able to see. They were a little obscure and quite possibly wouldn't make it to mainstream release in the UK.

One of those was Frozen River with Melissa Leo, nominated for Best Actress In A Leading Role. The movie is about a border crossing between New York State and Quebec and looks quite special. Unfortunately, I will not be able to see this movie before the Oscars. I know Melissa Leo's work from Homicide Life on the Street, so I am very happy for her to be nominated.

The other movie that looked destined to be unwatched before the Oscars was The Visitor. Thankfully, I was able to snare a screening of The Visitor at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, as part of a double Hiam Abbass bill.

The lead actor, Richard Jenkins, is up for Best Actor and he is very good in his role as a teacher, Prof. Walter Vale, dejected with his life, after losing his wife. He returns to his apartment in New York to attend an economics seminar and finds a couple dossing there, a Syrian musician, Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and his Senegalese girlfriend Zainab (Danai Gurira), both who are in the country illegally. He develops a friendship with them and is pulled into their struggle to remain in America, to be able to fulfil their dreams. Tarek's mother, Mouna (played by the charming Hiam Abbass), arrives in New York to find her son and a relationship develops between her and Walter, one that is innocent and heartwarming. Walter finds a cause and a love, both of which are fleeting, both of which impact him deeply.



Richard Jenkins will not win an Oscar for his role; he is definitely worthy, but the star quality power of Sean Penn, Brad Pitt and Mickey Rourke will be too much for him. A fine performance nonetheless.

The movie itself is wonderfully touching and hats go off to its writer and director, Thomas McCarthy, last seen playing a dodgy reporter in season 5 of The Wire.

Outside of the Oscar race but still noteworthy was the second movie in the double bill at Riverside Studios, The Lemon Tree. It is a touching story surrounding a lady (Hiam Abbass again) who defends her lemon tree plantation from destruction by her neighbour. A simple story in theory, but the fence line between neighbours is the border between Israel and Palestine and her neighbour is the Israeli Defense Minister. A touching movie and once again, Haim Abbass is wonderful.