Cast Away (2000)
Let us never allow ourselves the sin of losing track of time
Starring: Tom Hanks, Paul Sanchez, Helen Hunt, Lari White, Leonid Citer, David Allen Brooks, Velena Papovic, Valentina Ananyina, Semion Suradikov, Peter von Berg, Dmitri S. Boudrine, François Duhamel, Michael Forest, Viveka Davis, Nick Searcy
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Running Time: 143 minutes
US MPAA rating: N/AUK BBFC rating: 12
Adventure, Drama
On DVD What a DVD gives you is the freedom to skip back and forward through a movie, watch the whole thing repeatedly, or even listen to some choice insights from the director over the top of what's already going on. These aren't features that will always be guaranteed to enhance a movie - but, in the case of 'Cast Away', they definitely do.
It's one of those films that always seems to have something new to offer upon each viewing. For a feature with only one character to involve yourself with for over 2/3 of its running time, there's a helluva lot going on here. In years to come, this movie, much like its star, may well be looked back upon with even greater fondness than it was first received.
Tom Hanks delivers the performance of a lifetime as Chuck Noland, the punctuality-obsessed FedEx man forced to fend for himself on a remote island for four years when his plane crashes into the Pacific. His only supplies are the contents of the packages washed up with the wreckage, his only friend an inanimate volleyball named Wilson, and his only jumper a God-awful piece of knitwear of the type your Granny hands out at Christmas.
Hanks, despite his major Hollywood status, has always had a knack for playing the everyman, and you'll feel his every emotion as he struggles to survive his enforced exile from civilisation. Much of the scenery is rugged and impenetrable rather than conventionally beautiful - Hanks may be playing a modern day Robinson Crusoe, but this is no tropical paradise.
DVD Extras: A fascinating audio commentary from Robert Zemeckis and crew, 'Making of' featurette, Tom Hanks interview, 2 documentary programmes, On Location, focus on technical effects, storyboard-to-film comparison, conceptual artwork and trailers. Listen out along the way for Zemeckis' hilarious response to what might be in Chuck's remaining unopened FedEx package.
It's Got: A home dentistry scene to rival anything in 'Marathon Man'.
It Needs: To be watched more than once - there's quite possibly too much to be absorbed here in just one viewing.
Alternatives: Six Days Seven Nights, Papillon
Summary: A lengthy but engrossing film experience. Just try to make sure you don't watch it too soon before flying.
Review by Gary Panton
Review Date: 31st July 2003
External Links
Cast Away at the IMDB
Comments4 Comments |
| i think it is really fancsicate and i can't wait to watch it |
| Comment by:- hannah dalby | www.msn./hotmail.com | 22 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| I think this is one of the best movies I have ever saw,I do with he would have gotten the girl in the end. |
| Comment by:- Dave | | 26 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| The airplane crash is the best ever. Absolutely frightening and has put me off flying forever. The performances from Tom Hanks and Helen Hunt are so tender at the end that it cant help but raise a tear even to the most hardy of filmgoers. High Point: That plane crash, getting off the island, the reunion. Low Point: How can you make a sequal ? |
| Comment by:- Boanerges | | 01 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| Boring... Tom Hanks did a good job considering it was a full 140 minutes with no interaction with other actors though. The movie seemed to drag. The story line was good but too long. The movie needed more action or more anything... just something else. |
| Comment by:- FROMnANGEL | | 01 April 2005 | ip: logged |
