Yet Another Good Robinson Crusoe-Like Movie

Rating: 8/10 (21 November 2015)

Lost-at-sea/stranded-on-an-island movies apparently agree with me. "All is Lost" and "Life of Pi" are a couple of perfect modern examples, but "Cast Away" does a fairly good job as the stranded-on-an-island variety. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, "Cast Away" features great visuals and a miraculous gathering of greater actors. Helen Hunt is Chuck Noland's wife...and Chuck is played by the one and only Tom Hanks.
Chuck and Kelly are happily married, always happy to see each other once Chuck gets back from his journeys (he works for FedEx). It's around Christmas time, but Chuck has to leave anyway, and heads out on the plane...until something unknown happens to the plane to cause it to go out of control and crash and make Chuck the lone survivor. He floats up on an island and does his best to survive, wisely using the FedEx boxes that get washed up on the island. Even, Wilson, the volleyball, comes in handy helping him keep his sanity (although sometimes all it seems to do is make him insane). He struggles at first, taking an infinity trying to light a fire and open a coconut. Eventually, though, his experience grows and he acts like he was born on the island, surviving until he can get a raft built. While he works, he makes small chat with Wilson, even jokes around with him a bit. "You want to hear something funny? My dentist's name is James Spalding." He looks at Wilson a bit, expecting him to laugh, but apparently Wilson didn't think it was funny.
"Cast Away" can be a bit dull sometimes, or slow-going, but it is also thoroughly entertaining, especially near the climax. When he gets back home, it turns out that he's not as happy as he thought he would be. Although the time on the island is enjoyable, the heart of the film lies in his return and what tragedies await him...and the chance to start a new life.
82.5/100