DIY: Survive

Rating: 9/10 (13 June 2007)

Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks), a top Fed-Ex manager, is a workaholic whose life is controlled by the clock. When Chuck accepts a last-minute job that interrupts his Christmas, he parts from his love, Kelly (Helen Hunt), to board a plane which ultimately crashes into the Pacific. Chuck is the only survivor of this crash and is washed onto a deserted island. With only intuition and a few recovered packages, Chuck must learn to survive. His love for Kelly is the only thing which pulls him through this time, but when he is rescued four years later, he returns to civilization only to find that Kelly has moved on. With the love of his life taken away, he must now overcome his most difficult challenge: life without love.
In the film "Cast Away" (2000) director Robert Zemeckis depicts a great adventure of the hardships and tragedies that one man must face for survival. Zemeckis accomplishes a great feat through this movie. For over half of the 143-minute film, Tom Hanks performs with only a volleyball, "Wilson," and somehow the film never ceases to entertain the audience. Aside from this achievement, Zemeckis successfully portrays his central idea of loss and return and the tragedies that accompany this. His idea is effectively depicted through Chuck's mood changes from desperation to optimism, from passive despair to aggressive hopefulness. In the end, his return is accompanied by the painful realization that he has been gone too long. The central message delivered to the audience is to appreciate life because it can change at any moment.
Zemeckis's intentions are also illustrated through sophisticated techniques. The most appealing technique of this film is its ability to attract both genders: females are attracted to Noland's motive for survival, and males are attracted to his techniques for survival. Camera techniques are also very important in this movie's appeal. The camera does not conceal imperfections; it actually strives to capture the unattractive moments to portray true ruggedness. To show Noland's frantic mentality, the camera moves quickly and restlessly. Another compelling technique is Hank's physical transformation. The production of "Cast Away" was halted for a year while Tom Hanks dieted to achieve his starved appearance. This along with the other techniques utilized make this film both compelling and entertaining to a wide variety of viewers.