A fine effort that falls a bit short due to a couple of poor choices

Rating: 7/10 (19 December 2008)

"Cast Away" centres on Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks), a FedEx employee stranded on a deserted island after his plane crashes. Entrenched in a desperate struggle for survival, he faces constant physical and emotional hardships. It's a high concept movie that harks back to the classic novel "Robinson Crusoe".
This was a demanding role for Tom Hanks and he ably carries the picture. The middle portion of the film is basically all Tom Hanks with his only interaction carried on with a volleyball that he transforms into a makeshift companion. Unfortunately, the film's other big name, Helen Hunt, delivers a performance that really makes you wonder how she ever won an Oscar. She and Hanks have absolutely no chemistry together and her poor acting makes the role even more unappealing.
The surprising thing about the film is how it turns a simple story of survival into an engaging film. Obviously, life on a deserted island is bound to be somewhat uneventful but Hanks & Zemeckis nevertheless retain our interest. The concluding portion of the film, however, leaves much to be desired and nearly ruins the film. Part of this is due to Hunt's performance but the storyline is hokey to begin with.
Director Robert Zemeckis delivers an attractive looking film with a wealth of fine outdoor cinematography. Also worth noting is the sound design, which really enforces the sense of realism on the island. Alan Silvestri's score is wisely dormant during this time, which gives it greater impact when featured at other times. All in all, the entire film is marked by high production values.
The film's glaring flaws do not outweigh the more polished elements but it is disappointing to see the film nearly derailed by a couple of poor choices. Nevertheless, the film is certainly worth watching for the good parts.