The Citizen

Just your run-of-the-mill, feel-good, do-good Hollywood presentation where everybody is such an incredibly good Samaritan and the only bad guys are the psychopaths running the US government (only when a Republican is President though, otherwise they all become good Samaritans too, get Nobel prizes, etc.)

Such simplistic movies distorting the truth are bad enough when they are made by Americans who can be seen as entitled to criticize their own government, however blatantly wrong they may be, but it leaves a sour taste in the mouth coming from a Syrian director...

P.S. The European intelligentsia will love this movie! I am surprised it didn't win the Golden Palm in Cannes...

What I really liked about this film is that it really embraces the true colors of Arabs in general and especially Muslims. The horrible stereotypes that always picture Islam as the "terror religion" have become so annoying these days that I try to avoid any movies that tell stories of Arab terrorists.

Egyptian actor, Khaled ElNabawy plays a very believable Ibrahim who is a Lebanese immigrant coming to the US in search of the American dream. I have to say that I'm Egyptian and never was a fan of Khaled ElNabawy, but this film showed me what a great actor he is with his solid performance. The rest of the cast were also great but the main role was outstanding making you feel every step of suffering this guy went through.

Of course, this movie isn't a movie to go down in history books as a great film but it's more like a message being sent especially to most Americans who unfortunately don't really know that much about other cultures and religions. In general, if you are a Muslim, Persian, Indian or certainly an Arab; you will find this film very satisfying.

I gave it a 7 because of some flaws and plot holes noticed throughout the film, usually I point them out, but this time I'm going to let it go.

i was deeply moved and disturbed at the same time while watching this film. it's a great film, telling the exact journey of millions immigrants who migrated to this country with so many naive and hopeful dreams. great cast and superb directing. i like the casting agency to choose a very naturally talented actor to play the main role of this film, he is very likable and so convincing from the first scene. all of the other cast also performed well and looked pretty realistic. the 9/11 disaster and its aftermaths that have changed so many peoples' lives and so many countries images are beyond any measurement can fathom. this and before this tragedy, L.A. riot and the O.J.Simpson's ridiculous trial, all damaged the great image of USA, the ridicule of the American presidency, the run-off-the-mill US military and soldiering authenticity's, their hardcore butchery and cruelty. the L.A. riot and the O.J. Simpson trial also exposed the ridiculous legal system of this democratically proud country and had further damaged this once great nation. and now, a film like this to remind all the citizens of this country not to become so mindless and ruthless to each other. it also reminds us that racial discrimination, racial bias, the hatred and animosity among all the people in America will never go away but only become more tolerate. there are so many excuses for us to act crazily and become so cruel to each other.

this film has told us something and reminded us something that we should never judge other people with different races. but it certainly a box office disaster.

Islam is the religion of peace. The real terrorists in our world are anyone but Muslems.

We all stand in long security lines at the airports, and probably will do so forever, because someone blew up passenger liners over and over again. Who did that? It must be Martian terrorists, certainly not Muslems.

Every country in the world that shares a border with a Muslem nation is at war with them. It's not the Muslems who are fault. It's all the others.

This movie gives us a Muslem, who thinks and acts like an American, because Muslems are just like Americans.

Give me a break.

This movie gives us a Muslem, who thinks and acts like an American, because Muslems are just like Americans.

Give me a break.

this movies is the best Arab life story in USA i ever see. it's really important to understand that not all Arab immigrant or Muslim are terrorist , we all humans live in same planet , respect each other and religion . I don't care what other's believes or what's their religion as long as they are good to me i'll be good to them and even better . I hope that someday people start respect each other for their moral not for their skin or religion .I'ts great movie for you Khaled el Nabawi you did great . this movies is the best Arab life story in USA i ever see this movies is the best Arab life story in USA i ever see this movies is the best Arab life story in USA i ever see this movies is the best Arab life story in USA i ever see