Engrossing desert island flick
 Oct 13th, 2006
Advantages:
Compelling drama
Disadvantages:
A tad long
Recommendable:
Yes
Detailed rating:
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Characters / Performances
Special Effects
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  bigmike33
About me:
Haven't written a review in a while. Must get the creative juices flowing again!!!
Member since:01.09.2006
Reviews:72
Members who trust:18
Review rated by 27 Ciao members on average: very helpful 
Most of you may have seen or heard of Lost, about a group of survivors stranded on an island in the middle of nowhere. Cast Away is just like that, except for the fact that there is only one survivor and there are no exciting mysteries to be uncovered. You may consider watching one person trying to survive on an island as pretty dull viewing, but in fact Cast Away is extremely interesting and engrossing, as we watch the castaway come to grips with his new world. Tom Hanks is the star of the show as FedEx worker Noland, and for me gives a great performance as the stranded survivor. In preparation for his role as Noland Hanks had to lose a massive amount of weight, so for me he puts his heart and soul into his role, with impressive results. Chuck Noland (Hanks) works for FedEx as an engineer, moving around from place to place at the drop of a hat, leaving his girlfriend Kelly (Helen Hunt) behind. His job is a tough but enjoyable one as he tries to sort out the company's problems.
This all comes to an abrupt end when, while travelling on another excursion, his FedEx plane spectacularly crashes into the ocean in the dead of night. Noland manages to reach a deserted island, and soon realises that he is the sole survivor of the plane crash, and must wait for rescue. When rescue doesn't come, Noland must fend for himself on the desolate place he must now call home.
Throughout the majority of the film we watch Noland as he comes to terms with his surroundings and does what is neccessary to survive. This must have been a tough role for Hanks as it is pretty much a virtuoso performance, but he does a very good job. Thankfully this film is not all serious, there are some funny parts, particularly Nolan's relationship with a volleyball which washes up on the beach. The volleyball (named Wilson) becomes a key part of Nolan's survival, providing him with company, particularly at his lowest points. I started to think that the volleyball was real after a while, such is the way Nolan talks and engages with it. These are my favourite scenes in the film, showing that in times of crisis and loneliness, we all need someone to pull us through. The darker and more serious parts of the film are also effective in giving us an insight into loneliness and survival. The most powerful scene in the film is definately the tooth pulling moment, when Nolan has to perform dentistry on himself. For those very sensitive about these kind of things, it's definately a moment to look away. There are also some heartwarming moments in the film; when Nolan starts a fire for the first time you're cheering with him, even if it is only a small success. I did feel that the film dragged on a little bit, but director Robert Zemericks probably does this to make the feeling of desolation more raw and more real.
The film is set over 4 years, and you begin to see how Nolan's body shape deteriates over this time, and also the increase in his facial hair. I like the way that the film doesn't rely heavily on special effects or dramatic music, but instead simply follows Nolan in an unfussy and straightforward manner, without the need for melodramatics. The film also has an important message at its centre, the notion that it is too easy to rely on materialistic things without appreciating the simple things in life. Thankfully this message is very subtle and doesn't ruin the pace and drama of the film. Although it has its flaws such as the long running time, for me this is a really entertaining film. The slow pace helps to build the drama, while Hank's performance as the stranded survivor is captivating and utterly convincing. At first (before the crash) Nolan seems like a rather annoying and tiresome character, but you really warm to him when he lands on the island, and are rooting for him as the film progresses. Watching this film is a humbling experience, and left me with a very warm feeling inside, which can only be a good thing.
DVD:
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The 2 disc DVD contains some good extras, including a feature which allows you to take a tour of the island where the film was made. There are also the usual bits and pieces, including an audio commentary from the cast and crew, a feature on the special effects and some trailers. I think the extras are pretty good, the audio commentary is particularly interesting as it tells you how particular scenes were shot and how the location was used to the best effect. There is also a rather amusing piece on Wilson the volleyball which I found quite funny. It's worth purchasing the 2 disc DVD because of these extras rather then just getting the bog standard DVD.
Cast Away: Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt, Nick Searcy. Directed by Robert Zemeckis.
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by (15%):
06.11.2006 17:46
This film was on telly just the other night. I've seen it at least 3-4 times since it first came out and I still find it enjoyable.
30.10.2006 04:59
Great stuff. Love Tom Hanks films. His performances always make the films worth watching cause he puts so much time and effort into them.This one was great, love his relationship with Wilson! lol :O) xxx
18.10.2006 21:58
Great on the film, but I'd have liked to have seen the same depth in your review on the extras.