Tom Hanks is without doubt one of Hollywood’s very brightest stars, and in A Hologram for the King he once again shows why such praise is richly deserved. He stars as Alan Clay, an IT businessman whose life has become rather complicated: His wife recently divorced him, he doesn’t have the money to pay for his daughter’s tuition, and, above all, he’s trying to jumpstart a washed-up career. To this end, Alan heads for the Arabian Peninsula to present a revolutionary teleconferencing system to the King of Saudi Arabia – and perhaps the only thing that can save him now is a long-ago acquaintance who happens to be the monarch’s nephew. Seasoned director Tom Tykwer demonstrates that the old “American businessman in the Middle East” premise can yield much more than a series of picaresque situations. In his new movie, the clash of cultures is staked out with tasteful, cultivated humor and a pleasing dose of melancholy. The adaptation of Dave Egger’s eponymous novel rewards lovers of breathtaking exotic scenery, and will satisfy everyone looking for an upbeat show that doesn’t insult their intelligence.