![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Great Hanks film...
Dec. 23rd, 2000 10:09 pmJust got back from seeing Cast Away with Galina. I think it's probably the first time this year (it's only December) that we've gone to see a first-run film, and it was definitely worth it, despite the sticker-shock ($7.50 a ticket!).
I'll be thinking about this film for a while, but the immediate reaction is that storytelling ability is a rare enough talent, and in this film, Tom Hanks demonstrates that he is not only among this elite of storytellers, but that the stories he chooses to tell are worth listening to.
In finding the viewing times over the Internet, I happened to read two publicly contributed reviews of this film. One called the film disappointing and an advertisement for Federal Express; the second rambled on a bit about how the film demonstrates the evils of capitalism. Both commentators missed the mark completely.
Near the end of the film, Hanks' character talks about how, stranded on the island, he felt the only thing he had control of was the time and manner of his death, but that he decided to "keep breathing," and that is what eventually led to his salvation.
Without explicitly pointing at it and saying it, that one scene is alight with undiluted truth and the meaning of life.
This is a great film on many levels. First, there's not much dialog, since there's only one character for much of the film. This makes the film very much a visual experience, in keeping with the nature of the genre. Dialog during the greater part of the flick was rare, and employed like a spice...for flavor.
Second, Hanks compresses about a million years of evolution into four years of one man's life shown in about two real-time hours. I was particularly taken with the driving need for art in the life of Hanks' character, and the pains to which he goes to express himself artistically. Literally.
Cheers...
I'll be thinking about this film for a while, but the immediate reaction is that storytelling ability is a rare enough talent, and in this film, Tom Hanks demonstrates that he is not only among this elite of storytellers, but that the stories he chooses to tell are worth listening to.
In finding the viewing times over the Internet, I happened to read two publicly contributed reviews of this film. One called the film disappointing and an advertisement for Federal Express; the second rambled on a bit about how the film demonstrates the evils of capitalism. Both commentators missed the mark completely.
Near the end of the film, Hanks' character talks about how, stranded on the island, he felt the only thing he had control of was the time and manner of his death, but that he decided to "keep breathing," and that is what eventually led to his salvation.
Without explicitly pointing at it and saying it, that one scene is alight with undiluted truth and the meaning of life.
This is a great film on many levels. First, there's not much dialog, since there's only one character for much of the film. This makes the film very much a visual experience, in keeping with the nature of the genre. Dialog during the greater part of the flick was rare, and employed like a spice...for flavor.
Second, Hanks compresses about a million years of evolution into four years of one man's life shown in about two real-time hours. I was particularly taken with the driving need for art in the life of Hanks' character, and the pains to which he goes to express himself artistically. Literally.
I carved that fight on a reindeer bone,I can't even think straight anymore (but maybe that's fatigue). I am very impressed with this movie.
With crude and hairy hand,
I pictured his fall on the cavern wall,
That men might understand
- Langdon Smith, Evolution
Cheers...
