Cast AwayDirected by Robert ZemeckisStarring:Tom Hanks, Helen HuntCast Away: Movie A-, DVD ACast Away is a movie that attempts to tell what it would really be like to be stranded on a deserted island. The only survivor of a terrifying plane crash, Chuck Nolan, played by Tom Hanks, finds himself in isolation for four years. One of the great things about this character is that is an average guy. He is not in great shape, he doesn't seem to have any particular survival skills. This makes it very easy for the audience to feel what it would it would be like to be inside his shoes. Hanks, who must carry a third of the movie on his own, is excellent in this role. He gives everything creatively, emotionally and physically to make this character real. The experience on the island is a reminder of how little a person needs for basic survival. Once he has water, food, shelter and fire he is able to get by. It is what becomes of him as a person that is in question. It is said that it is our surroundings that, at least in part, shapes our personalities. So what happens when everything we know disappears? Chuck Nolan is forced to invent a companion, and it is Wilson the volley ball that keeps him sane. However in contrast to person we see at the beginning of the film, someone dedicated to his career and girlfried, Nolan has become a sort of caveman. On the island his only job and reason for being is to keep himself alive. After a while it is only natural to question the point in anything. After exploring what becomes of a person's psyche after being isolated for four years, the film thrusts Nolan back into regular society. It is interesting the slightly sad look Nolan has as he leaves the island and heads back to normal life. It reminds us how easy it is to get used to a situation, no matter how bad it is, and that change is scary. When Nolan gets back to his old life, it's not his old life at all. As the years went by everyone he knew had moved on and experienced life's changes. He had none of that. Suddenly he has all the comforts of modern society that he had missed, but he is still just as lonely. The scene of Nolan lying on the floor of his hotel flicking his light on and off to reveal the face of his lost girlfriend, is incredibly emotional. This simple scene illustrates so well the sadness of Nolan's situation without a word being spoken. I have heard many people express disappointment over the fact that he doesn't get back together with his girlfriend. I however, think this is one of the great things that makes this movie so real. In the four years he was lost, they both went throught experience that made them different people. They were no longer on the same path. She thinking he was dead had to start a new life. There would have been no way for them to realisitcally go back to the way they were. The final shot of the film shows him at a crossroads. It is an illustration that he too will find a new life and will be able to move on. The DVD for Cast Away is packed with great features. The commentary track with Zemeckis and several technical crew is very informative. While it is fairly technical as far as lighting and sound, it offers a look into how much care was put into making Cast Away a realistic character study. Also included on the second disc are a making of documentary, several featurettes and a Charlie Rose interview with Tom Hanks. There are also some interviews with some survival experts giving some insight as to what it would take to survive in Chuck Nolan's situation. Overall this is an excellent DVD package. Review by Sherry |
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