Tom Hanks holds a special place with my family, and his 2004 film _The Terminal_ is one I somehow overlooked until recently. Now I've seen it, and here are my thoughts. The official description sets the stage: _Victor Navorski finds himself without a country; his flight departed just as political upheaval destroyed his homeland, leaving him stranded at Kennedy Airport with a passport that no one recognizes. While awaiting resolution from authorities, Viktor continues to live—and develops a connection with an attractive flight attendant._ A person living in an airport for months seems improbable? It’s based on the real-life experience of Merhan Nasseri, who resided at Charles DeGaulle Airport in France from 1988 to 2006 – that's eighteen years. He became trapped when his refugee paperwork was lost while he was traveling from Belgium to England. It’s an amazing story and worth looking into on Wikipedia. The film is fairly gentle and easygoing, and Hanks suits the role of the inquisitive and affable Navorski perfectly. He embraces his situation, quickly adjusting and forming friendships with various airport employees. He also creates conflict with Stanley Tucci's character, the Customs Director. At times it felt a little like an extended advertisement, but overall it’s an enjoyable movie that provides a pleasant escape despite some unrealistic elements—like how swiftly he learns English. Hanks is excellent, his acquaintances are appropriately eccentric, and Tucci does a good job as the antagonist. Catherine Zeta-Jones appears in the film, but her role feels somewhat forced. The “stuck in the airport” premise was strong enough on its own and didn’t really need a romantic subplot, though I suppose those things are added to broaden appeal. It just disappeared from Netflix here in Australia—which is what prompted me to finally watch it—but if you stumble across it, it's a genuinely heartwarming film that will leave you feeling good for a couple of hours.

Source on TMDB