Review of Cast Away (2000) by Seth Y — 19 Jun 2013

Ranking in my Top 10 favorite films of all time, Cast Away is hands down the greatest survival movie ever made. Beneath the surface however, it's so much more than that. This is a truly perfect cinematic achievement.

FedEx engineer Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks), spends a majority of his time traveling and troubleshooting the company's systems. After a lengthy trip, he returns home to his long-time girlfriend Kelly (Helen Hunt), who he lives with in Memphis, Tennessee. During a family dinner on Christmas Eve, Chuck is summoned to resolve a problem in Malaysia, putting a damper on their holiday plans. After his company plane crashes in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Chuck finds himself stranded on a remote island, left to fend for himself. As the rest of the world thinks he is dead, Chuck must learn to adapt and survive, all while hoping to eventually find a way back to civilization.

Anyone who doubts Tom Hanks' acting ability is completely delusional. As far as I'm concerned, the man is one of the best actors of all-time. The raw talent that is on display here is truly amazing, resulting in one of the greatest performances in cinematic history. You wouldn't think you'd be emotionally moved by a man stranded on an island, but this is one of the few films that can bring me to tears. Truly extraordinary.

While I think some of Robert Zemeckis' other work is slightly overrated, Cast Away is a one of a kind film. When things are all said and done, you are left with a deeper spiritual message that you don't expect at the beginning of the movie. On paper, it's a movie about a guy stranded on a deserted island. When you experience this film, you realize that it's more than you could ever imagine. From the beautiful cinematography, to the stellar acting and soundtrack, Cast Away radiates perfection. 5 stars.