Once again, the majority of the good parts were male. There were some strong female performances, but too often those roles felt like showcases for particular actresses than solid characters in a good story. Watching him slowly work his way up from the television sitcom Bosom Buddies to Big , we all thought we had Tom Hanks pegged as a primarily comedic actor. But then came Sleepless in Seattle , Philadelphia , the Oscar, and now this, the next chapter in Hanks' mission to show us that he's the best actor around. And with two Oscars in a row a real possibility, it's hard to argue with him.
Hanks simply creates unforgettable characters with unrivaled sensitivity and deftness of touch.
Phrases he utters during the course of this film have entered the public consciousness, become part of our vocabulary. He is a man at the top of his craft and it's something to behold. Enjoy it while you can. That's what Martin Landau does in Tim Burton's Ed Wood , transforming himself into Bela Lugosi, the legendary screen actor and definitive Dracula. Lugosi is Ed Wood's idol and best friend, starring in most of Wood's infamously horrible films because he is in the twilight of his film career and cannot find other work.