Hanks earned a well-deserved best actor Oscar nomination, carrying much of the action without talking to anyone but himself for a Wilson volleyball he finds in a washed-ashore Fed-X box.

Full Review | Aug 11, 2021

Tom Hanks is the perfect actor for the role.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 22, 2020

"Cast Away" is an exceptionally well-crafted exploration of the survival of the human spirit. It's a movie unafraid to consider the full complexity of life.

Full Review | May 30, 2019

one-man show

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | May 16, 2012

Tom Hanks' powerful, brutal and mature story.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 22, 2010

As melancholy as it is affirming, "Cast Away" tells a darkly comic, occasionally punishing parable about what happens when humans lose sight of humility in life's grand scheme - an interesting thematic twin to Tom Hanks' own "Joe vs. the Volcano."

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | Sep 25, 2010

Remains one of the more vividly transporting films I've come into contact with. It's heartbreaking, darkly comedic, bravely observational, and ultimately, pure emotional poetry.

Full Review | Original Score: A | Dec 7, 2009

A gripping survival drama and one of my favorites of 2000.

Full Review | Apr 29, 2009

The beginning and ending of the film are a bit underdeveloped, but that's just quibbling.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 7, 2008

Zemeckis' tranquil control never wavers.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Feb 3, 2008

I wish that all of the film's 144 minutes were spent alone with Hanks.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Dec 8, 2007

This is Mr. Zemeckis' most confident directing to date. If he only had as much faith in his audience.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 14, 2007

Thoroughly entertaining and skillfully rendered.

Full Review | Jan 5, 2007

Though Hanks comes across as blandly as ever, at least his solid performance shows he's up to carrying half a movie on his own, and Zemeckis' direction is at first as busily efficient as the protagonist.

Full Review | Jun 24, 2006

It's really kind of ironic. The old Chuck's life is ruled by the clock. Once he's learned better, we don't get enough time with him because the author's decided it was time to go. Oh, well.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Dec 6, 2005

While his philosophical ventures seem stuck in the shallow end of the pool, Zemeckis takes an important step forward as a filmmaker.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Dec 6, 2004

This isn't a first time a long-awaited movie has turned out to be a crushing disappointment and it won't be the last, but the loss is made even more wrenching when one considers how little it would have taken to make Cast Away a great movie.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Jan 9, 2004

It's a risky venture, and a fascinating, straightforward glimpse into the soul of a man.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | May 14, 2003

When I prayed to the film divinities that I wanted less Tom Hanks at the movies, I didn't just mean that I wanted him to be thinner.

Full Review | Original Score: C | Mar 19, 2003

If all of Cast Away were as gripping as its long midsection, it would be overwhelming; still, even with its flaws, it marks another milestone performance for Tom Hanks as well as for Robert Zemeckis.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Feb 8, 2003