Earl Baker, Jr. Movies
A lonesome widower and college economics professor finds his mundane existence suddenly shaken up when he befriends a pair of illegal immigrants, one of whom has recently been threatened with deportation by U.S. immigration authorities, in the sophomore feature from The Station Agent director Tom McCarthy. Years after losing his wife, 62-year-old Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins) has also lost his passion for writing and teaching. In an effort to fill the empty void that his life has become, Walter makes a half-hearted attempt to learn to play classical piano. Later, when Walter's college sends him to a conference in Manhattan, he is surprised to discover that a young couple has moved into his seldom-used apartment in the city. Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and his Senegalese girlfriend Zainab (Danai Gurira) have fallen victims to an elaborate real-estate scam, and as a result they no longer have a place to call home. When Walter reluctantly allows the couple to remain in his apartment, talented musician Tarek insists on repaying his host's kindness by teaching him to play the African drum. Over the course of Walter's lessons, the ageing academic finds his spirits revitalized while gaining a newfound appreciation for New York jazz clubs and Central Park drum circles. Later, Tarek is arrested in the subway and threatened with deportation after police learn that he is an undocumented citizen. Suddenly, in his attempt to help his new friend, Walter's passion for life is unexpectedly awakened. When Tarek's radiant mother Mouna (Hiam Abbass) arrives in the city in search of her son, that passion turns to romance -- something that Walter had previously thought he would never experience again. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Jenkins, Hiam Abbass, (more)
- 2005
The talented but aimless son of a famous writer embarks on an existential road trip with his best friend in the heartfelt feature debut from writer/director Dylan McCormick. Sean (Frederick Weller) lives in the college town where his father used to teach, and divides most of his time between construction work, bartending jobs, and senseless one night stands. One day, fearing the worst for his future, Sean decides to take fate into his own hands by gassing up the car and heading for New York in search of Molly (Greer Goodman) - a former girlfriend whom he met while bartending. On the road, Sean and his hard-drinking best friend Lyle (Reg Rogers) gradually begin to discover that life is precisely what one makes it out to be. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frederick Weller, Wynter Kullman, (more)
- 2000
Traces of blood found in an apartment belonging to a separated couple (Tessa Ghylin, Michael C. Williams) suggest that the couple's missing baby may have met with foul play. The investigation is stymied when each parent claims that the other has the infant. The D.A.'s office takes over when the police find the body of the child, who has apparently starved to death. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
