Cast Away: Review By Corey

A film that truly makes you ask yourself: could I do this?

(Reviews contains minor spoilers. I assume everyone has seen this)

Before seeing "Cast Away" I honestly wasn't sure what all the buzz was about. People would tell me to watch it and I'd take it into consideration, but I never actually took the time that the film supposedly deserved. Time passed by and I was able to catch a few minutes of the film on TNT, and it was a good ten or so minutes in that I realized that 1) I was watching a so-called "great" movie on cut-television, which is something I never do and 2)The movie had already been on for a good hour and I was jumping into it. Lets go about two years after that, where I finally saw the film for the very first time, giving full attention on nothing but "Cast Away" and I must say this, why did I never give the time to watch this before? I truly love when a movie can sweep you off your feet from pure (This isn't an actually word) epicness. The story is moving and works at a very swift pace never leading the viewers down into boredom. This a film that truly makes you ask yourself: Would I be able to do what HE is doing? Would I be able to do what he's doing? He's just a man, and so aren't I, so maybe I could survive too. It doesn't take skill, it takes not just courage, but the main thing it takes is love, and "Cast Away" does a beautiful job showing us that the key to survival is that.

The story of "Cast Away" flows the ocean current beautifully. This is what I call an epic motion-picture. A tale of survival and love has never been seen from my eyes before so perfectly. The characters are cropped to love and as the film plays you grow to care for the survival of the main character and root for him to return home to his true love, just like a soldier in war. The movie focuses on Chuck Noland, a FedEx executive who somehow manages to balance his busy, busy job and a perfect romance with his love, Kelly. On Christmas night, Noland is asked to fly on short notice and with his work goes. Telling his wife before he leaves "I'll be right back" might be a bit too ironic, but, it works with the film's storyline. On the plane turbulence is hit sending the plane straight into the ocean, way off course (This scene is done wonderfully, I might add). Being the only survivor of him and the pilots, Noland finds himself on a deserted island with nothing but his conscience and a few FedEx packages, that might just save his life. Starting off a little bumpy, not be able to start a fire and having trouble catching fish, Noland faces the biggest challenge of his life: Survive and find a way home to Kelly. In the movie, Noland spends four years on the island but in the movie we actually only see year 1 and year 4. I would of rather seen a peak at all four years because when the movie shifts from year one to year four (where Noland is pretty much a boss at EVERYTHING), it becomes confusing because I would've liked to see his change in character. But hey, the movie is still perfect nonetheless.

Another big addition to the film's plot, however, is a pretty important character to the story, I'd say: Wilson. Having nothing but a volleyball for a friend, Wilson becomes a pretty important character to the film, even if he doesn't exist literally. The scene where Wilson floats off into the ocean had me rooting and chanting for Noland to swim off and save him, and it was only afterwards that I remembered I was chanting for the life of a volleyball to be saved. What is interesting about the movie, and what I really wasn't expecting, was that even after Noland gets off the island the film still goes for another half hour or so, maybe longer. Returning home (and surprising everyone), Noland is excited to find Kelly. When he discovers Kelly has re-married and has had a child, you really start to feel rock-bottom for the character. You've watched him fight his way off the island to return home to his life and then everything crushes in your stomach once the film reaches where you discover their love will never be possible again. It's pretty sad, I think, but I also believe it adds a beautiful touch (sure, a romantic kiss after four years would've been nice too) but, Kelly re-marrying seemed a bit more realistic, her thinking Noland was dead and all. All and all, "Cast Away" is a mast piece in my eyes and the story is crafted wonderfully.

Tom Hanks was nominated for an Oscar for his role as Chuck Noland in "Cast Away", loosing to Russell Crowe in "Gladiator" back in 2001. Tom Hanks, as always, gives a very real performance and does an amazing job keeping the film stringed together, being the only actor in most of the scenes. Winning an Oscar for his 1994 hit-performance as Forrest Gump in "Forrest Gump", its no surprise Hanks can pull off incredible performances. While I don't think I'd be able to choose between Crowe or Hanks if it was by my choice back in 2001, I can say that both gave great performances in both movies. But, that's just leading into a whole other subject. Holly Hunt, starring as Kelly, does a pretty good job for the scenes she's in. I was able to really feel the chemistry between Hunt and Hanks. When their scenes in the beginning rolled, I was able to believe that they were a couple in love. That's probably why I was rooting for Noland so heavily while he was on the island to get back to Kelly. The two are the only two major stars in the movie, but, other co-stat performances are done quite nicely. As for the acting from "Cast Away", its nothing to worry about being bothered from. A film lead by Tom Hanks should never be a disappointment when it comes to down performance-wise.

Robert Zemeckis, who also directed "Forrest Gump" and other films like "A Christmas Carol" and all three "Back to the Future!" film, does a marvellous job on the direction with "Cast Away". The shots of the island, and beautiful angles of the high-tides make the movie ultimate perfection! While I haven't really been much of a fan of his most recent work in the animation-department, Zemeckies was a god when it came down to his past films like "Contact" and "What Lies Beneath". The screenplay, in my opinion, is probably the best thing that comes from "Cast Away". Written by William Broyles Jr. (Apollo 13, Flags of our Fathers), the script has a beautiful story that anyone can connect with. Having to find your way back to your true love, with the ultimate challenge blocking your way, was a great moral behind the film. I thought the film flowed pretty nicely, as well, and whenever dialog was in tact it was definitely on key. Based on his work on other screenplays, Broyles JR. is no stranger to great writing and "Cast Away" proves that statement.

You can watch "Cast Away" and be caught thinking about a few different things. You could start appreciating what you have a little more, because obviously being trapped on a deserted island for four years your not going to have everything you at all desire. The film really makes me glad to have a roof over my head, and to have frozen-food sections waiting for my purchase (because belive me, I cannot fish for my life). It makes you think of all of your loved ones and how at anytime they too could just disappear. Sure, "Cast Away" might be a work of fiction but that doesn't mean it isn't possible to be alone with no remorse and no one by your side.

It's a real pity I never gave "Cast Away" a chance years ago when I should have. Looking away from such a perfect movie is a real "shame on me". The story is triumphant, the performances are spot-on, and the cinematography is beauteous. If your looking for a story of survival, that is even better than 2010's critically-acclaimed "127 Hours", then "Cast Away" should be your number one choice if you haven't yet seen it. Being a movie-buff who always reckons with films that show how far a person would go with finding their way to their true love, (I'm a sucker for movies about romance) "Cast Away" is the ultimate choice, even if it doesn't include alot of love scenes. Its not the outline of what the film shows, but its the thoughts that come from watching it.

-Screeny