Paradoxical and Beautiful Filmmaking

Rating: 9/10 (23 December 2000)

As I left the theater after seeing Cast Away, I had a strange mixture of emotion in my mind. Perhaps this was due to the disappointing quasi-Hollywood ending that followed the terrible yet surreal ordeal of a man who grasps at hope of escape from the island he has been physically imprisoned on after a plane crash. But I have a feeling that Robert Zemeckis, an accomplished and innovative director, inserts this incredulity for a purpose. And the more I consider it, this weakness complements its powerful central segment in which actor Tom Hanks grapples with the forces of Nature. Upon his return to civilization, he finds that his former life dissipated and thus the audience's hollowness resulting from the film's frail ending analogously parallels the protagonist's tumultuous emotions and uncertainty about how to proceed. I recommend Cast Away because it is a wonderful film in many respects; these achievements far outweigh any regrets about its finale. The lavish photography of Tom Hank's solitary struggle against his island prison and the beautiful yet harsh Pacific Ocean brings a humanitarian spirituality to the film. This brought me an appreciation for the seemingly petty elements of civilization that we frequently see and ignore (in a manner quite similar to American Beauty in my opinion). The hidden element of film of sound really contributes to Cast Away by pounding each and every wave that hits the protagonist's weak little raft deep into the audience's mind, expressing the brute power of the ocean wonderfully. And of course, the darkly humorous acting of Tom Hanks plays the key role, seeking to mask his desperation by introducing Wilson the volleyball, a "character" that he converses with freely. Enjoyable and intriguing, Cast Away has been quite possibly the best Hollywood film of the year, in my opinion.