Poignant and moving drama

Rating: 9/10 (27 March 2012)

"Castaway" was moving and powerful. Although Hanks relationship with Helen Hunt should have been developed a little more, as the relationship between those two was vital to the story, and could have enhanced the empathy of the viewer for the situation he later finds himself in. However, Helen Hunt doesn't really turn in a spectacular performance here (the only roll I really liked her in was in As Good As it Gets) and it may be for the best that she doesn't get a tremendous amount of screen time even considering the length of the movie.
This film I think further cements Tom Hanks in the roll of the Jimmy Stewart of our time; he is again cast in an "everyman" role, in which he so excels. The main character is an intelligent, interesting, straightforward, good, honest, unassuming person that I found easy to like and to sympathize with.
This movie is not filled with fireworks, and if you don't like movies that take their time and move at a steady pace, rather than racing from crisis to crisis, you might not be that enthused. This really is more a drama than an action movie. I do like movies that allow me to get to know the characters involved, and I did quite enjoy it. I have recommended it to friends.