There's not much to eat on one island.

Rating: Null/10 (16 February 2001)

The last time we were treated to the Tom Hanks "State of the Union" speech was at the 2001 Golden Globe Awards ceremony. You knew something was up when he accepted Best Actor without the usual tears streaming or welling up on his face. Tom Hanks is getting used to this. Hanks is a brilliant actor and luckily for him, a movie has been made that stages his abilities yet once again.
Cast Away is a refreshing adventure movie set in the Pacific (where else when it comes to major routes via FedEx?) Yes, there is a plane crash. Hanks' character 'Noland' survives the crash without injuries and manages to stay afloat in his rubber dinghy until dry lands arrives. I am not giving away much considering most of the spoilers are left to the theatrical trailer.
Director Robert Zemeckis is successful at reminding us in this world of technology and plentiful relationships that we really can be alone on this planet. Hanks evolves his character with typical mastery. He uses restraint when necessary and builds suspense as we wonder "How would I react in a situation like that?" Hanks answers all of these questions depending on little dialogue while on the island.
In a cinematic impossibility, Zemeckis forms the key element to this film that would have suffered without it...a relationship with Wilson ( a volleyball that washes also ashore).The relationship between Hanks and the Volleyball works. The film might have been boring with unrealistic conversations talking to oneself serving no purpose except to inform the audience. Here, Hanks serves up a memorable performance engaging Wilson and continually validates the drama that unfolds on the island.
At either end of the island adventure exists the real world and Hanks' tether to his rat-in-a-maze existence. His love-interest with Helen Hunt is weak it seems and we are left to wonder how strong their relationship is given the circumstances. Zemeckis forms a series of events where Hanks's courier work stands in the way of any serious love-interest (not the plug FedEx was looking for I'm sure). Unfortunately, there is not a lot of time to evolve any of the other characters and for this reason, this film is not robust enough to be an Oscar winner for Best Picture.
What is effective is the feeling of isolation on the island. Zemeckis is artful in his use of sweeping, panoramic movements with the camera. Few movies have come close in also stranding the audience.
Finally, the scenes back in civilisation pale in comparison to the ordeal on the island. I wish Zemeckis had shortenened the ending dramatically for a more powerful transition in plot. The final ten minutes were disappointing as Zemeckis attempts an epilogue rather amateurishly.
The crash of the airplane is breathtaking. Hanks deserves another Oscar on his mantle. The movie is extremely entertaining despite shortcomings with development of "non-essential staff". The morale of this story should be: "Make every departure a meaningful one. You never know what will happen on your next business trip overseas. That swiss army knife is not just decorative either."
7.5/10