Cast Away

Name: Cast Away
Genre: Adventure, Drama
Released: December 22, 2000
Duration: 143 min
Rating: 73
Cast: Tom Hanks

2000

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 549 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	Your Score
7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 549 Ratings

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Cast Away

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: December 22, 2000 | PG-13

Starring: Tom Hanks

Summary: Hanks stars as Chuck Noland, a FedEx systems engineer whose personal and professional life are ruled by the clock. His manic existence abruptly ends when, after a plane crash, he becomes isolated on a remote island - cast away into the most desolate environment imaginable. (Twentieth Century Fox)

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 143 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Lou Lumenick

A really classic adventure yarn with one of Hollywood's great actors hitting one out of the ballpark. If you're seeing only one movie this season, this is the obvious choice.

Dallas Observer Gregory Weinkauf

Finally, the man (Hanks) has delivered a moving, slightly unhappy, and ultimately hopeful story in which squishy love takes a backseat to the wondrous whirlwind of life. The season's most delightful surprise. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

An adventure movie of extraordinary simplicity and power.

Roger Ebert

Here is a strong and simple story surrounded by needless complications, and flawed by a last act that first disappoints us and then ends on a note of forced whimsy. Read full review

David Sterritt

Hanks's extraordinary acting keeps the adventure involving even though the beginning is predictable, the middle is uneven, and the finale slips into Zemeckis's patented brand of "Forrest Gump" fuzziness. Read full review

Emanuel Levy

Meticulous, sumptuous production design, and striking visuals compensate for the lack of dramatic momentum in a film that arguably stretches narrative form to its limits. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

It will bring joy in a way certainly not intended, as one of the most gloriously and unwittingly silly films ever devised by a major American filmmaker. Read full review

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User Reviews

moonman1994

Jan 5, 2015

Absolutely a great preformance by Tom Hanks with directing to match his talent. All I can say is Tom Hank's acting job in this film is pretty much the only thing that can make anyone feel for a inanimate object!

22 of 23 users found this helpful221

StevenF

Jan 10, 2013

Track your parcel, because this is one FedEx package you're going to want on time.
At almost two and a half hours in length, this is no walk in the park, or island for that matter, but Tom Hanks throws himself into this so much its hard to know what the clocking in time is.
In the firstTrack your parcel, because this is one FedEx package you're going to want on time.
At almost two and a half hours in length, this is no walk in the park, or island for that matter, but Tom Hanks throws himself into this so much its hard to know what the clocking in time is.
In the first ten minutes we start to see a convincing ad for FedEx to use concerning time on delivery, but that is besides the point.
Hanks has one of those styles where we immediately feel sorry for whatever dire situation he finds himself in, his story in Cast Away is no different.
But the film separates itself from anything you will have seen before. almost carried solely by Hanks, we have his character, FedEx systems analyst Chuck Noland, stranded on an unknown island due to a tragic plane crash, with nobody else there, he must fend for himself, and this is where we see Tom Hanks at his very best. Through is performance and Robert Zemeckis direction, we see a story of taking each day at a time if this sort of situation arose, not a 'right heres what Im going to do' type story, that is unrealistic, we see him licking water from a leaf for goodness sake, it brings everything to the table, being alone, emotional withdrawal and lengths we would go to just to stay alive, who ever thought of needing the dentist while on a deserted island.
Hanks delivers a stellar performance, his weight loss as the film progresses is clearly visible, another indication of ability to to place himself in the mind of whoever he is portraying.
This film was of course the birth of the infamous 'wilson ball' friendship which Hanks had with a simple blood stained Wilson ball, this was ahidden message within which was in are darkest and most despaired moments, its simplest things we can turn to, no matter who or what, to realise who we are and what we are capable of.
What was surprising the most was how Hanks convinced us how alone he really was, talking to 'Wilson', fighting with coconuts and attempting to escape, it was all these realistic and yet simplistic gestures which created a thrilling journey and emotional performance from Hanks. It was definitely the quieter moments with no dialogue that really showed the capabilities of of Hanks, so much more than Forrest Gump on a desert island.
FedEx need to maintain a reputation after this film, Hanks, on the other hand, has nothing to prove, see this to believe the brilliance.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

toronto905

Sep 29, 2015

An incredible, adventurous heartwarming survival story. It really gives us an idea of how we would feel, physically and mentally when our fast-paced, enjoyable and exciting life is tragically stripped away from us and slowed to a crawl as we are far away from home, lonely and testedAn incredible, adventurous heartwarming survival story. It really gives us an idea of how we would feel, physically and mentally when our fast-paced, enjoyable and exciting life is tragically stripped away from us and slowed to a crawl as we are far away from home, lonely and tested extremely. A great example if how people change when they are castaways.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

KJ_20

Dec 21, 2022

Wonderful story, acting and script. Cast Away is a scary, resonating story about being alone. It's very tense, and the camerawork and aircraft scenes are splendid. What a satisfying movie!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

vikesh2206

Nov 29, 2014

The grippingly realistic 'Cast Away' is anchored by a spellbinding performance by Tom Hanks and mature direction by Robert Zemeckis to overcome its flaws.

10 of 10 users found this helpful100

Schizophreniac

Oct 28, 2013

I felt all of emotions in this island that Tom felt. Only I want to say this review. Perfect emotions can come to your heart with this story. But Now I am so scared aircrafts:)

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

PaulW.

May 4, 2006

very superficial. This guy spends 4 years alone in an island and the only things he learn is to fish. I find this unrealistic. In a situation like this anybody would need to find a reason to live, to go deep inside oneself. That is totally missing.

0 of 3 users found this helpful

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64	#64 Best Movie of 2000
16	#16 Most Discussed Movie of 2000
13	#13 Most Shared Movie of 2000