High drama: compulsory viewing!

Rating: 9/10 (26 January 2001)

This is a very well made, intense experience, and for a lot of it's running time, basically a one actor film (though the volleyball Wilson provides staunch support!). Tom Hanks' performamce is stunning, entirely believable. The movie begins slowly, but then comes the crash which leaves Hanks stranded, and, even though I was expecting it, when it came it was terrifying; it was also brilliantly filmed, as was the movie all the way through. There were some gripping and drenching sequences, especailly the scene where Hanks jerks out a bad tooth with the blade of an ice skate. Some other highlights besides Hanks performance included Wilson, who injected just that little more into the movie. The downside was probably the ending, drifting into some romantic scenes between Hanks and Helen Hunt, and a very unfinished final scene! That said, the romantic scenes I just mentioned were very moving; once you've been drenched from your strength by three quarters of the film, then you're drenched from your emotions by the last quarter! The feeling of loneliness on the island where Hanks is stranded is acute. At 2 and a half hours long, this is a very draining movie to watch, but very worth while! Go and see it whenever you can!