Tom Hanks is one of Hollywood’s most popular and popular actors, but even he can’t go back to certain scenes of his movies without a struggle. During a recent interview for the upcoming ‘Toy Story 5′ set to hit theaters in March, the two-time Oscar winner was candid and introspective, revealing that there is one particular scene from his illustrious career that he simply cannot watch without getting up out of the house.
Hanks has appeared in a wide variety of roles across his long career of nearly 50 years, with some of his most beloved film roles being some of the most memorable and iconic in cinema history. Whether he’s playing a comforting everyman role or a heroic ship captain, a destitute AIDS victim or a founder of FedEx, his performances have always demonstrated a tremendous range and emotional depth. In a rare moment of vulnerability, however, the actor revealed that he is not happy with every scene he’s ever shot and in some cases “some moments” will haunt him even more than his absolute many miles of devoted fans.
On the podcast ‘The Rest Is Entertainment,’ Hanks had a thoughtful look back at his career, admitting that while all the things he’s done have been important to him, they are not necessarily the ones that critics and audiences came to associate with him. He was very humble when talking about the process of creating a movie and said that some were exactly what he wanted them to be, but some were not, and that after years of time has passed he still feels there is something lacking.
The actor pointed out that, in his opinion, it was not his style to see his films after the first release, since they are unchangeable and have become part of his artistic legacy, “priceless memories”. He said he was uncomfortable with a few “very important” scenes in his films, admitting that there are scenes in them where he didn’t get what he wanted. It is these moments that he admits to constantly reminding him of all things that can go wrong in the filmmaking process, and his own shortcomings.
Another movie which still gives Hanks this quirky feeling is the survival drama ‘Cast Away’ (2000) directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring as FedEx systems engineer Chuck Noland, who is stranded on a desolate island in the Pacific Ocean for four years. It was a huge hit – too big to miss notice – and Hanks was nominated for Best Actor in the Academy Awards and is still talked about and analyzed decades after its release. His acting performance was highly acclaimed for its physical and emotional depth, and his scenes with a volleyball he dubbed Wilson came to symbolize his character’s life.
Though the movie remains popular and one of the most acclaimed films of all time, Hanks revealed to Entertainment Weekly that there’s one scene in ‘Cast Away’ that he simply can’t handle. It’s when Chuck makes his way back to civilization after his eventual rescue and is reunited with his ex-fiancé (Helen Hunt) Kelly Frears. An intensely poignant moment that is a culmination of years of separation and unspoken loss, this pivotal moment in the narrative is one of the finest pieces of acting work in the film.
The actor has actually said that he can’t watch this reunion scene, even if the film is on TV, he would rather leave the room. He is suffering from a powerful feeling of creativity failure; he didn’t get the emotional truth he felt he needed to get to the moment and his performance didn’t match the need of the scene. An admission into this speaks volumes about the self-appraisal of a performer at his zenith, and how no matter how successful he is, there are still humane sentiments of inadequacy and missed chances.
The difficulty of Hanks’s confession is the apparent incongruity between his view of the scene and the massive positive reaction that came in from the public. In the end, the reunion between Chuck and Kelly was one of the most poignant and emotionally charged scenes in cinema history, a testament to Hanks’s skill in delivering a scene filled with depth and emotion without the need for melodrama. Film scholars and critics have examined and extolled this scene, for its subtlety, its attention to character detail, and the palpable chemistry between Hanks and Hunt.
This mismatch between artistic perception and reception has prompted some interesting reflections on the essence of what an artist does and how he judges what he does. A man who has always excelled at being honest, professional and dedicated to his profession, Hanks seems to set an impossibly high standard for himself with scant room for self-congratulation or complacency. He’s willing to admit his perceived shortcomings in public and continue to strive to become a better artist.
The actor’s comments also offer a window into the often unseen work that goes into making an effortless looking, fully formed film, and a reminder that what looks like effortless and fully formed on screen is often the product of a great deal of effort, uncertainty and sometimes disappointment. Collaborating as a team is a fundamental part of filmmaking, and even the best actors will find that on any particular day, they need to deal with issues related to production, style and mood, and their own physical and emotional boundaries. Just looking back at the scenes from decades later, with a critical eye, gives a hint that Hanks’ artistic spirit is still in motion, not satisfied with what he has accomplished.
