Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt, Chris Noth. Directed by Robert Zemeckis. Chuck Nowland (Hanks) is a supervisor for FedEx shipping, travelling from remote country to remote country to improve services there to FedEx standards. On Christmas 1995, Chuck is called away on an impromptu mission. Before he goes, he exchanges gifts with his girlfriend Kelly (Hunt), leaving her a ring box to open when she gets back home. He promises to "be right back" in time for New Years. Unfortunately, his plane experiences turbulance, and an explosion in the back of the plane sends it in to a dive, crashing into the ocean. Of the five men onboard, he is the only one to survive. He drifts and lands on a beautiful but deserted island in the middle of the Pacific. He waits for rescue but it begins to dawn on him that it is unlikely to happen. It is up to him to survive, and maintain his sanity as the years pass by. Right from the beginning, the film emphasizes the title and theme of the film is two words, Cast Away. Meaning, Chuck is stripped of everything from his civilized world, from watches to pagers and every distraction from the world which uses up time. At first he resists, refusing to open any of the FedEx boxes which wash ashore, sorting them into piles by destination. But eventually, he gives in to the reality no one will be rescuing him, opening all the packages save one. The bulk of the rest of the film is spent with Chuck surviving in total isolation using the items in the packages, from ice skates to videotape to help him get by. He has no one to talk to except himself, and "Wilson". Zemeckis is not afraid to move slowly, and show how alone Chuck really is, and how there will be no easy escape, no Gilligan's Island humourous adventure in paradise. And the considerable time on the island is the best part of the film, as we are allowed to feel the joy Chuck feels in his small victories, such as creating fire and spearing seafood, and feel the disappoint he feels when things go wrong. The film works primarly because it refuses to take the easy way out. Chuck waits to be rescued, but slowly realizes he is likely to die on that island. Over and over we see Chuck fail at tasks and suffer disappointments, and no animal or person jumps out of the bushes to confront or save him. He's alone and he stays alone. As you've likely seen in the film trailer, Chuck is rescued after four years away from home. This is where the film loses some of its steam. Too much time is spent with Chuck ruminating about the meaning of life and truly very little happens upon his return. He discovers the world has continued without him, Kelly included, who believed he was dead and gone. Another flaw is the considerable screen time FedEx is being given. The beginning and ending parts of the film (not coincidentally the weakest) are seemingly devoted to FedEx's committment to prompt delivery anywhere in the world, and what a great "family" it is as it welcomes Chuck back home. Spending so much time on the island, the film hinges on the performance of Tom Hanks, and it is one of his best. The island story is divided into two parts - the immediate aftermath of the plane crash and four years later. Hanks still has his Green Mile paunch as he lands on the island, but four years later, the physical change is startling. Filming was halted for months so Hanks could lose weight, and he becomes a gaunt, bearded wild man, angry and a bit savage but still under control. He's likely to be nominated for an Oscar and it would not be unreasonable for him to receive it. Hunt seems to be in every second movie this fall, and she is fine appearing in under a third of the film. Hanks sterling performance is worth the price of admission, and while the film doesn't quite measure up to his excellent work, it is still worth taking the trip with him. If you would like to respond, please click the E-Mail Press Here To Go To The Review List Page