Enthralling Middle Section Marred by Opening and Closing

Rating: 7/10 (20 December 2005)

"Cast Away" opens with a relentless commercial for Fed Ex, even with the crash, "When it absolutely, positively has to be there the next morning" and how that claim creates a certain work ethic around the world.
Cut off the beginning and ending and it's an absolutely terrific modern Robinson Crusoe minus Friday movie.
The waves were far more effective and realistic (and terrifying) than the touted ones in "Perfect Storm." Too bad the special effects won't get noticed precisely because they are so believable rather than fantastical. The camera work on the water is excellent.
Tom Hanks is quite the Everyman as the whole audience wonders if they would be as inventive as he in surviving with an unusual set of resources. The silence and Hanks's performance on the island are completely involving.
The entire audience questioned a closing gimmick that is simply a concluding Fed Ex commercial.
(originally written 1/7/2001)