I go back over and over again to wow because I just can't get over this movie!! Now, let's start off by saying, I do not think Tom Hanks deserved two Oscars. One, yes, two, no. I do not think he should have even been nominated for Saving Private Ryan. I do think he should be nominated for this. His performance is extraordinary - he shows so much emotion in his facial expressions, and he has to - there is not much dialogue at all during his stay on the island. His character is tragic, loveable, heartbreaking and honest.
The story of this flick is as follows: Hanks plays Chuck Noland, a Fed-Ex big wig who gets called off on Xmas eve (I assume it's Xmas eve, but if not, it's very close to Xmas) for an emergency. No, we don't know what, but he has to go. He leaves behind his girlfriend, Helen Hunt (who is fine in this role. There is not much to the role, so I can't say she's great or fabulous or anything, she's fine). The plane goes down in the Pacific Ocean. The crash scene is terrifying. I my heart was racing, I was breathing heavily and I was scared to death for this man as I watched them crash. I have to say - I haven't been this effected emotionally by a movie since American Beauty (I spent the last 20 minutes of that movie grasping onto my shirt, tense as hell) After the movie was over, I was talking to Dave about how, at first, I got slightly annoyed that while this plane is bumping around and they are obviously going to crash, that Chuck unstraps himself to grab the heirloom pocketwatch that his girlfriend had just given him. But then, I realized, if a man thinks that he is going to die, is pretty much convinced if it, isn't he going to hang on to whatever he can for whatever small amount of time is left? I think, yes.
There are little nuances like this throughout the film. Noland is marooned on this island for 4 years. Amazing. And this guy gets HURT along the way. It is heart wrenching to watch him walking around this island, his body a punching bag for the elements, rocks and coral reefs. It's painful to watch him attempt to build a fire and you want to cheer when he actually does. He comes across a pair of shoes (won't tell you how or why, don't want to give away everything) and, of course, they are too small. He eventually builds a raft and is rescued.
Happy ending right? HA! He gets back to civilization and has many new things to deal with. He's out of his element all of a sudden. Hanks' facial expressions again convey his bewilderment at actually having a drink with ice in it, being in a building, just being alive and not half-naked.
I could write forever about this movie I think. I will just sum it up here - fantastic movie, well worth seeing, even if you think you hate Tom Hanks, I think you will change your mind after this movie.
Bottom line: 5 stars - Best picture of the year Oscar nomination and possibly a win. It's the best movie I have seen so far this year.
--Cathy