Cast Away

Cast Away was a 2000 film starring Tom Hanks. Hanks earned another Academy Award nomination for his performance of the movie, and seeing the whole thing, you'll understand exactly why. If I'm not mistaken, this was the 5th time he was nominated for an Academy Award. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Tom Hanks is one of the best actors, and one of my favorites. This movie just re-affirmed that!

The basic plot of the movie revolves around a man who got stuck in an island after the plane he was riding crashed. He stayed there for several years without any means to contact anyone for help. He was forced to be familiar with the island including where to get water and food. He had to discover a decent place for his shelter. He lived the life a lot of us are scared to experience, one filled with loneliness and suffering. It took a toll on Chuck Noland (Hanks) both physically and mentally.

The main message of the movie is survival, time and decisions. Being stuck in an unfamiliar territory, he had to learn fast how to cope with the surroundings and gather food and water for sustenance. It's like the reality show Survivor, except there were no hosts, competitors, and most importantly, there was no prize waiting at the end of his stint. One more thing, there's no assurance that stint would actually end. Throughout the movie, there were a lot of references of time, and just how important time is. This was clearly depicted on how events happened. Being away for several years, Chuck knew that things would be a  different, although I'd bet that he wished nothing would have changed. There were also scenes about the decisions we make in life. Do we get on the plane, do we get out of the car, and which road would we take? In our everyday lives we face decisions that will affect the course of our lives. That's what I got from the movie.

One would argue that it was a somber movie. That it was filled with pain and depression and sadness. That it was about losing the one you love and losing everything you were used to. That it was about being placed in a new place with no one and nothing. It was about everything we don;t want in our lives. All of the things mentioned are true. However, at the end of the day, it's also about triumph and the drive to survive. It's about gaining something or someone new despite the loss. It's about learning new skills, and being able to adapt to unfamiliar situations. It's about exploring oneself.

It was a really magnificent movie. It was moving and it's one of those that makes your heart feel heavy, but also gives that sense of hope at the same time. It's funny because it was actually raining here when I watched the movie so it had that extra effect. Seriously, though, it is impossible to encapsulate just how fascinating the movie was with this entry (although I do hope you'll still enjoy reading this). It was everything I expected and more. Definitely one of Hanks' finest performances.