Director: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Tom Hanks,Helen Hunt
In a season devoid of strong performances, a clear-cut Oscar nominee arises
from the new Robert Zemeckis film Cast Away: Wilson the Volleyball as
best supporting actor. Wilson is the only friend of shipwrecked Fed Ex employee
Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks). Throughout much of the movie, Chuck only has himself
and Wilson to talk to. Mssr. Hanks doesn't do a bad job either, and he might
sneak in a nomination for himself, although scuttlebutt is that Wilson is the
sentimental favorite. In a non-speaking role, Wilson must rely on his facial
expressions, of which he has none since he is a face painted on a volleyball.
This is true minimalist acting, and it's evident that Wilson cites Bruce Willis
as one of his strongest influences.
In all seriousness, however, Tom Hanks turns in a performance that, if I were
a real movie critic, I might refer to as "bravura." Tom Hanks has
always been the ultimate everyman, and the sense of empathy he exudes allows the
audience to really experience what it would be like to be trapped on an island.
The answer, in case you were wondering, is that it would suck. There are no
monkey butlers or delicious fruit, as that liar Bart Simpson would have you
believe. Instead there are all the coconuts you can manage to crack open, and
bleeding wounds. Lots of 'em.
But there's more to Cast Away then bleeding wounds and Tom Hanks in
dreadlocks and a loincloth. There's a story here, and just in case you missed
the preview that gave away the whole damn movie, I'm going to tell you about it.
Our boy Chuck is a Fed Ex problem fixer. We first meet him in Moscow, getting
those Ruskies' asses in gear because to Chuck, life is a race and if you're not
living by the clock, you're not living.
Chuck has a steady named Kelly (Helen Hunt) who's a big sweetie, and they are
thisclose to tying the knot. Then one fateful Christmas Eve, Mr. Bossman came to
say, "Chucky with your schedule so tight, won't you guide my shipment
tonight?" Chuck can't say no, so he hops a plane and heads to Fiji.
However, I don't think it's spoiling anything to say that Chuck never gets to
Fiji, and instead, finds himself the lone survivor of a harrowing plane crash.
And I do mean harrowing. Afterwards, Chuck finds himself marooned on a deserted
island and trying to survive.
To give away more would be unfair and, besides, that's the marketing
department's job. I will say that the film falters a tiny bit at the end, but I
feel it comes to a satisfying conclusion. So, if you want to see an amazing
example of what an actor at the top of his game can do, go see Cast Away.
If you want to see hard-core beach volleyball action, go watch ESPN, you
Philistine.
