Perhaps Tom Hanks' greatest film performance

Rating: 9/10 (22 July 2011)

Interesting that it was the early 90s where the critics and Academy started recognizing Tom Hanks as an actor of considerable depth and universality. I really think it's A League of Their Own in '92 that got the ball rolling; Hanks totally stole and dominated an ironically female-laden film; Hanks SHOULD have been nominated Best Supporting Actor in a now iconic comic role as Jimmy Dugan. Then in '93 and '94, there were back-to-back Best Actor Oscar wins for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, respectively. Hanks was undeniably great in those films, but I still felt like the praise came a tad too early. I actually wasn't too keen on some of the nominees that Hanks was up against in those two years, so while I felt like he deserved his wins based on his competition, there were some actors who were overlooked in those two years that I felt gave career performances (Kevin Costner in '93 for A Perfect World and Johnny Depp in '94 for Ed Wood) that would have been my personal picks for those awards in those respective years. I guess the question at that point for me was, "Did Tom Hanks just fluke his way to TWO Best Actor wins?!"
Then Hanks put my fears to rest! He continued his roll with Apollo 13 in '95 and it was evident that he wasn't going anywhere! The man proved he was great actor. Heck, he even was a success in his first directorial effort in '96 with That Thing You do! Then, of course he stars in Spielberg's powerful Saving Private Ryan in '98 (another Best Actor nom, for which I think he should have won), then the beautiful The Green Mile in '99 (in retrospect, I think that should have been another Best Actor nom) And it all culminates in this film Cast Away (2000). Hanks would receive his, to date, last Best Actor nomination. Right now, I'll say it, this should have been another Oscar for Mr. Hanks!
Hanks plays Fed Ex executive Chuck Noland, whose plane goes down somewhere in the South Pacific. Noland is washed away on a desert island for 4 years and must learn how to survive off of instinct, guts, savvy, and determination. After learning how to make fire (a great scene!), Noland copes day to day by making friends with one of the packages he was delivering, a "Wilson" volleyball which he attaches the same moniker to. I'm still astounded as to how Hanks pulled this off! Tom Hanks and a volleyball is one of the best pairings in Hollywood history! Of course Hanks went full method with this performance, literally losing a large amount of weight since his character had to live off of sparse island food for 4 years. But, of course, Hanks pulled it off, totally involving the viewer and putting us in his place. The great actors will do that.
Many complained about the late scenes of Hanks back in civilization, but I have no problem with them. They're really not that long. I liked the scene with Helen Hunt (Chuck's ex-fiancée who thought he was dead and had married someone else in his absence). It was emotionally involving and I love the music accompanying it with the rain pouring down on them. I also love the real ending, with Noland deciding to go cross country delivering the Fed Ex items recovered on the island, and then meeting angel on earth of a woman that you just KNOW Chuck ended up with!
Generally, I think Robert Zemeckis is an overrated director, with Back to the Future being his undisputed masterpiece. But Cast Away 2000 is definitely 2nd on my list of Zemeckis films. It is involving throughout without ever devolving into being boring or unbelievable. Hanks was robbed big time at the Oscars. This is perhaps his greatest role and film performance and should have been his 3rd Oscar!