Great Hanks performance, but...

Rating: Null/10 (2 January 2001)

You've read the synopses, you know what the movie is about. Let's get to the meat... skip if you wish no spoilers. Tom Hanks did a fantastic job of creating a believable character. His acting was perfect for the role. Up until his eventual rescue the film is excellent. Sure, we could have seen more of his "decline" into more primitive processes, and it would have added to the movie. The roundabout way his suicide attempt is introduced in the movie is effective. The crash is harrowing. His discoveries on the island are phenomenal. His "transformation" into the lean, thousand-yard stare, almost-hopeless primate is wonderful (he seems almost neanderthal in his reaction to the porta-potty piece in the water... loved it). The movie _after_ the rescue missed its mark. Hanks discussion with his friend on the private plane had neither the stilted quality one might expect from someone whose sole partner for 4 years was a punctured volleyball, nor did it have the possibly clamouring quality of someone who is finally around a lost friend. I could expect either, but instead we are treated to a rather bland characterisation. In fact, all of the interactions with others (save the rather emotional monologue to the same friend later) have this detached quality that TO ME seems inappropriate somehow. This is almost painfully true in his interaction with his long-lost sweetie, played by Helen Hunt. My problem is I can't seem to be able to imagine any _real_ people, when placed in the same situation, who would act the way that both of them act. Even the "last chance" part towards the end didn't have that emotion that one would expect in the situation. Anyway, I enjoyed the film, but am still mildly disappointed with the points above. I will still, however, probably buy it when it comes out on DVD. Go figure.