Cast Away is a good movie

Rating: 8/10 (15 June 2010)

One thing I talk to my friends about is star power in an actor, can an actor carry a film by him or herself? I explain that it's actually a rarity that we find an actor who can keep your interest for an entire film and also have massive appeal. Tom Hanks is one of those rarities, if it wasn't already proved enough with Philadelphia or Forrest Gump, it's proved with Cast Away that he can not only carry a film but keep you interested in the story and character as well. Cast Away is a film that takes chances because this could have been a total flop or a very boring movie. After all, being ship wrecked onto an island is not a new story. The reason it took me so long to see this film is because I thought it would be tedious and most people I know that saw it said it was just an alright film. Now I don't think this is the film of 2000, but it definitely ranks up with one of the strongest performances of the decade. Not having any dialog for most of the film, Tom Hanks keeps your interest as we see this tragic character trying to hang on to any inch of his live and survive hoping to come back home to his true love.
Chuck Noland is a time-obsessed FedEx systems analyst, who travels worldwide resolving productivity problems at FedEx depots. He is in a relationship with Kelly. Although the couple wants to get married, Chuck's busy schedule interferes with their relationship. A Christmas with relatives is interrupted by Chuck being summoned to resolve a problem in Malaysia. Flying through a violent storm over the southern Pacific Ocean, Chuck's airplane crashes into the ocean, making him the only survivor among five. He clings onto the life-raft as it floats all night in the storm before being washed up on an island. Chuck initially tries to signal for rescue and makes an escape attempt with the remnants of his life-raft, but he cannot pass the powerful surf. He searches for food, water, shelter, and opens the FedEx packages washed up ashore, including a Wilson Sporting Goods volleyball. A short time later he draws a face on the ball, naming it "Wilson" and begins talking to it as if it was a person. Four years later Chuck is dramatically thinner and bearded with longer hair and wearing a loincloth. Finally deciding that it's now or never, he'll never be rescued so he'll do whatever he can to get off the island or die trying.
This was a hard movie to get through because you know it wasn't going to be a typical story. If Tom Hanks gets home, what is everyone supposed to do or how do they even act around him when they thought he was dead? As he's gone through an amazing transformation himself through this journey. Of course everyone has made fun of Wilson the volleyball, honestly I was expecting it to be stupid because of all the parodies that have been done on it. It was possibly one of the most honest characters I had ever seen, after 4 years on an island by yourself, to keep yourself from going insane, you would talk to anything. Who doesn't have that moment where they just need to hear their voices? The film is very well made and Tom Hanks is a tour-de-force actor who takes risks and they usually pay off. He made his character very real, sad, funny, and sympathetic. How could anyone not like Cast Away? I would recommend this for the film lovers because obviously for those who do not like this film don't seem to have a passion for the actor's performance or seeing the message in movies. Cast Away was a wonderful movie and Tom Hanks should be proud, this is one of the finest performances in cinema history.
8/10