|
The Movie: Some filmmakers seem to be doing multi-tasking lately. Barry Levinson did it with "Sphere", where his "Wag The Dog" was done on a break from "Sphere". Robert Zemeckis ended up filming the horrid "What Lies Beneath" between what I think is actually one of his best works and certainly one of the year's very best. "Cast Away" is not a perfect film, but at it's best moments it is a marvelous, moving picture that is held together by a brilliant performance from Tom Hanks. Before I go further into the review, I will probably talk about some details of the plot, but since the trailer has already given away more than it should have, I will go forward with the discussion. The film revolves around Chuck Noland(Hanks) a Fedex troubleshooter who, as we open the film, find organizing a Russian outpost, coaching them on the importance of time. He returns home, pleased to be able to put "time" aside to spend Christmas with his girlfriend Kelly (Helen Hunt). But, mid-dinner, he finds himself called away to Malaysia. The plane ride suddenly gets into trouble with a storm and, in one of the most terrifying sequences I've seen in quite a while, the plane crashes into the ocean. Chuck barely makes it out, and finds himself washed up on an island in the middle of nowhere. And at that point, the film begins a portion that, in the hands of different artists, may not have worked. But, with Zemeckis and especially Hanks, it's easily the best part of the movie. The middle piece of the movie is all Hanks. Little dialogue or music, and the part that I am most thankful for - no cutting to what's going on back home to break the experience. Hanks is a master of saying little to get us into the emotions that the character is feeling. Hanks makes all of the small victories that the character has during his stay on the island (4 years) that we can't help but root for him to stay balanced and keep going. The ways that he is able to find what he needs are done in a way that is believable and fascinating to watch. He even makes the relationship with a volleyball that washes ashore (he names it "Wilson") from becoming silly - it even becomes rather moving. Hanks is so good during these scenes, I could certainly watch a day-long cut of the film without likely getting bored of it. I will say that the third act brings Chuck home, but I won't say too much more than that (the trailers have already told you much more). This third act I felt was initially awkward; the island scenes were so impressive that I'd felt satisfyed. It's a great, soulful cinematic meal - I was "full", but the movie asks if you're still hungry. The intital scenes in this piece are passable; I liked how the movie was wrapped up, but was so engaged and entertained by the island scenes, this return to reality as we know it seemed less thrilling, even though I liked how it all was eventually resolved. It's amazing that "Cast Away" and "What Lies Beneath" were done by the same director. I walked out of "Lies" angry that I had lost two hours of what Chuck Noland cares about so much at the begining of "Cast Away": time. Walking out of "Cast Away", I found myself thrilled with nearly every minute - it's a journey that I certainly am thinking about taking again. |