|
The Mexican
An action-comedy starring Julia Roberts and Brad
Pitt, and directed by Gore Verbinski
|
|
Hannibal
This film starring Anthony Hopkins, Directed by
Ridley Scot, is a sequel to Silence of The Lambs |
|
|
Crouching
tiger, hidden dragon
Directed by Ang Lee,
this martial arts epic story is based on a novel
by Wang Du Lu. It stars Michelle Yeoh and Zhang
Ziyi
|
|
See Spot Run
A comedy for kids about a mailman and a FBI agent’s
drug-sniffing dog. David Arquette plays the lead.
|
|
|
Review: Cast Away
Two
Academy award-winners, viz. Tom Hanks and director
Robert Zemeckis come together in a film inspired
by the story of Robinson Crusoe. So you know that
you will get to see a good film. Also the fact that
the same team of Hanks and Zemeckis had earlier
given us the sensitive Forrest Gump makes Cast Away
a must-watch movie.
In Cast Away, Hanks stars as Chuck Noland, a FedEx
systems engineer, whose personal and professional
life is ruled by the clock. His profession demands
that he is always on the move, to distant places,
with the couriered packages. So most of the time
he is away from his wife Kelly (Helen Hunt) too.
During one such journey, his plane faces rough weather
over the Pacific Ocean, and crashes. Luckily he
survives, but finds himself alone, marooned on an
uninhabited island. How he adapts to the surroundings,
and sees that he gets his daily quota of food and
water is interestingly shown. After four years on
the island, Chuck manges to build a raft and rows
back to civilisation, and home, but is shocked to
find that things have changed drastically. The only
option for him is start his life anew.
CAST
CAST: Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt
DIRECTOR: Robert Zemeckis
PRODUCERS: Steve Starkey, Tom Hanks, Robert
Zemeckis, Jack Rapke |
Zemeckis’ direction keeps you engrossed, especially
the crisp manner in which the story unfolds. The
way he depicts incidents like Hanks learning to
hunt for fish and crabs with a sharpened stick,
how he collects pure water and how he learns to
eat raw flesh is very interesting. The editing is
slick, and doesn’t dwell on unwanted situations.
The special effects, especially the scene of the
plane crash, with sea water gushing in forcefully,
is marvellous. Also the scene where Hanks fights
the monstrous sea waves on his tiny raft, to escape
to civilisation, leaves you awestruck.
The film belongs to Hanks. His performance proves
that it is possible for an actor alone to hold the
audience attention for a better part of the film,
if he gets into the character. With attention given
to details like showing his helplessness when he
can’t get his food and water, or being ecstatic
when he peels a coconut, or the heart-wrenching
emotions he conveys when he searches for his only
friend on the island, an inanimate volleyball, to
which he talks, Hanks is mind-blowing. A Golden
Globe for the Best Actor is well deserved, and we
won’t be surprised if he bags an Oscar too.
The film, which celebrates the survival of the human
spirit and the never-say-die attitude when pushed
to the edge, is a must-see.
Salma Khatib
salmakhatib@hotmail.com
More
Stories...
 Two
women duel over a sword
Oscar-nominated
actress Ann Sothern dies at 92
Review:
House on Haunted Hill
Review:
Such A Long Journey
FROM
THE ACADEMY AWARDS FILE
Prosecution
sums up bribe, gun case against puffy
Ex-Spice
girl Geri gets driving ban
OSCAR
HIGHLIGHTS
Click
for Nominations of the 73rd Academy Awards 2001
Films
that have got five Oscar nominations or more
The
making of Cast Away
|
|
|
|
