Can one actor carry a movie for over 2 hours with almost
no dialogue for most of it? Good question. I had heard
enough about this movie to realize that was what was
expected of Tom Hanks, and had my doubts that he, or any
other actor, could pull it off. After all, dialogue and
interplay with other actors are the bread and butter of
the profession.
After seeing him pull it off, I have no doubt that Tom
Hanks' Oscars are well deserved. When viewing the angst
of Chuck Noland, a Fed Ex employee who survives a plane
crash by holing up on a deserted South Pacific Island, you
truly forget that it's Mr. Hanks, movie star, on that big
screen. He becomes Chuck. A man who learns that each day
is about getting up and breathing. On a good day, the
tide may bring you an unexpected gift.
The island scenes are truly riveting. It seems hard to
believe that I was glued to my seat watching a man learn
his way around an island. Chuck needs to learn what
resources are available to him. Fresh water and food are
challenges. Frequent storms and hot sun make shelter a
necessity also. But the thing that surprised me most was
Chuck's need for companionship. Deprived of his deep love
for Kelly Frears, Chuck must come up with someone to share
his island nightmare with him. He chooses Wilson and
remains true friends with him until they part company. (In
case you haven't had the "Wilson" plot spoiled for you,
I won't do so here.)
Perhaps I'm in the minority but I found the movie dense
with life lessons and ironies. Pre-crash Chuck had
a life filled with material posessions and lived by the
clock. Post-crash Chuck had minimal things that he
scavenged and no clock to tick away his 4 deserted years.
He learned that what he really missed most of all from
his former life was Kelly. His stay was made more
palatable by his hope to see her again. The name of
his friend on the island, Wilson, is Tom Hanks' wife's
last name. Coincidence? The heaviest irony may be the
title, "Cast Away." When Chuck's dream of rescue comes
true as a result of his determination, he returns to a
society that has cast him away. He has no family to
greet him home. His friends leave him in a condo filled
with the post welcome home party mess. Most tragically,
Kelly is enmeshed in a new life that has no room for
Chuck. He survived only to experience being cast away
again.
The movie had a few low spots. I didn't need to see
the plane crash in excruciating detail. Some people I've
talked to were glad it was included but I thought it was
unnecessary. The other area I thought could use editing
was the ending. It seemed to really drag. The welcome
home really begged the question of family. Before going
on the quick, four year jaunt, Chuck was surrounded by
family at a Christmas party. On his return, none were
there. It seemed inconsistent to me.
Bottom line on this film is that you should see it.
The movie is different from others in the "survivor"
genre and a little darker than Tom Hanks' fans may be
expecting. Sure to earn him a nomination, this movie
is worth full price for the middle scenes, where Chuck
must find his own way on the island.
Tom Hanks is Chuck Noland a man in a hurry. His job for Federal Express has him traveling the world on a moment's notice exhorting the company's emplo...More at Family Video
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.