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Tom Hanks shines in the Terminal
It’s Tom Hanks at his best in “The Terminal.” Hanks plays Viktor Navorkski, a traveler from the fictional eastern European country of Krakozhia. Navorkski lands in New York City to the alarming news that while he was in transit, his homeland erupted in a political coup.

As luck would have it, when Navorkski goes through immigration, he isn’t allowed to enter the country. And to make matters worse, since Krakozhia is in such a state of turmoil, the government no longer exists, and Navorkski has a passport from nowhere.

Hanks’ Navorkski is a lovable submissive character, contrary to immigration official Frank Dixon, played by Stanley Tucci. Dixon’s harsh diatribe about the destruction of Krakozhia is met by Navorkski’s limited understanding of the English language, providing an interaction that is hilarious.

Unable to go through immigration, Navorkski is allowed to stay at the airport until the situation in his homeland is resolved.

He spends his days and nights in the terminal’s international transit lounge until the war at home is over and ends up developing quite a life inside the airport as the days turn into weeks, and then into months. He ends up making more money at some point than Dixon, the immigration officer. He also develops a large group of people that are his friends.

What would a Hanks film be without a love interest? Catherine Zeta-Jones, as Amelia, fits the bill quite nicely as a fast and flashy female who warns Navorkski she isn’t the type of girl who will be good for him.

Hanks is incredible in this role that is reminiscent Forest Gump with an Eastern European accent. The Terminal is the best film in the theater right now, with the right mix of humor, great acting and situations that most audiences will relate to. Check out this film, you won’t regret it.

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* Graphic Copyright Dreamworks Studio 2004 All Rights Reserved. Story ©Alachua County Today. All Rights Reserved.

Caption Photograph: U.S. Customs and Immigration Officer Dolores Torres (ZOË SALDANA) is visited every day by Viktor Navorski (TOM HANKS), who hopes finally to gain entry into New York, in DreamWorks Pictures’ dramatic comedy THE TERMINAL, directed by Steven Spielberg.