The strongest scene, one where Coffey shows Edgecombe what his life is like, rings truest and packs more emotion in one scene than most movies could manage in their entire running times this year. After those films, it's safe to assume that Hanks doesn't have a bad performance in his body. His portrayal of Edgecombe is heartfelt, sympathetic and, most importantly, human. There are few actors who seem to lose themselves in a role. Edward Norton and Denzel Washington are two who can.
Hanks is another.
Look for another Oscar nomination for the actor. However, as good as Hanks is, his performance would suffer without the right supporting cast. Here he has it, and one cast member equals Hanks line for line, emotion for emotion and moment for moment. His character is a simpleton, yet he possesses the keenest insight into people and the world. He feels and aches from the pain in the world, and Duncan conveys that marvelously.