The Best and Worst of Tom Hanks

The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I take a look at the filmography of "Bridge of Spies" star Tom Hanks.

Films starring Tom Hanks that I've seen:
Splash
Philadelphia
Forrest Gump
Apollo 13
Toy Story
Saving Private Ryan
Toy Story 2
The Green Mile
Cast Away
Catch Me If You Can
The Polar Express
Charlie Wilson's War
Toy Story 3
Larry Crowne
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Captain Phillips

Best Performance: Cast Away (2000):
The single most impressive feat an actor can pull off is making a film compelling with no one else on screen to interact with. Hanks gives arguably the best solo performance in the history of cinema as a FedEx service engineer who is stranded on a desert island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean after getting into a plane crash that killed every other passenger on board. Armed with nothing but a blood-stained volleyball for companionship, Hanks gives a dense and remarkably human performance that resonates deeply with the viewer. You relish in his triumphs (when he makes fire for the first time and constructs a raft from a portable toilet that has washed ashore) and are crushed by his defeats (when Wilson is washed out to sea). Authenticity and emotional attachment to the character is at the root of all great performances and Hanks pulls both of those things off effortlessly here.  

Worst Performance: Larry Crowne (2011)
Hanks is one of the rare actors that doesn't really stumble on screen. Even in the lesser material he's appeared in during his 30+ year career, he tends to be one of the bright spots. However, if I had to chose a lowlight performance for him, it would have to be Larry Crowne. Hanks tries way too hard to be charming in his role as a retired Navy chef who enrolls in community college after being fired from his job at a department store for not having a college degree. The subpar material certainly doesn't help, but Hanks' shockingly bland performance makes the audience completely indifferent as to whether or not he defies the odds and accomplishes his goals.

Best Film: The Green Mile (1999)
Just like with Matt Damon a couple of weeks ago, picking a favorite out of Hanks' loaded filmography is not a simple task. Out of all the gems Hanks has starred in, Frank Darabont's fantasy crime drama The Green Mile shines brightest. I've seen the film a handful of times since I was a teenager and with each viewing, I'm still floored by it. It may be sappy and perhaps a bit overlong, but The Green Mile is also one of the most engaging, potent and brilliantly-acted films I've ever seen.

Worst Film: Splash (1984)
I'll be honest, I saw Splash when I was only 10 or 11 and I don't remember a whole lot about it. That being said, I'm able to recall enough about it to write it off as a moronic, unfunny film that serves as the perfect embodiment of everything that was wrong with 80's romantic comedies.

Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "Rock the Kasbah" star Bruce Willis.