Director: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt and Nick Searcy
‘A Captivating Survival Classic’
Imagine being stranded alone on an island. You have limited resources on the island that could help you survive. Without water, food or source of transportation, you are stuck in a hopeless situation. To make matters worse, there’s no person that you can possibly talk to on the island. All you have is a volleyball to express your feelings towards. It’s a nightmarish situation in which survival seems like an impossible mission to accomplish. Cast away on an island with only a volleyball with which to play, you face a situation where hope seems far away. Ultimately, whether you would make it alive out of the situation comes down to your will to survive. Would you be able to survive this hopeless scenario? Or would you sink to the depths of despair?
This theme of survival is beautifully explored in an authentic way in Robert Zemeckis’ film “Cast Away”. Zemeckis’ classic film paints a powerful portrait of survival. Released in 2000, the iconic movie offered an authentic glimpse at a man seeking to survive an island that’s catastrophic. Boasting exquisite production-design, powerful performances and engaging storytelling, it’s a survival movie that works on every level. At the centre of it all is Tom Hanks, who carries the film on his shoulders. Ultimately, it delivers a powerful message which would resonate with everyone which has faced trauma at an early age. A powerful classic about survival, it’s one of the best movies ever made that simply demands to be seen.
Set in the 1990’s, “Cast Away” tells the story of a FedEx agent seeking to survive on an isolated island posing catastrophe. Tom Hanks plays Chuck Noland, a dedicated FedEx agent that enjoys his job of travelling across the world. However, Noland’s dreams are threatened when he becomes involved in fatal plane crashes. Stranded on an isolated island, Chuck struggles to survive a scenario where his emotions are conflicted. With only a volleyball with which to communicate, Chuck questions his fate. Facing a dilemma, Chuck isn’t entirely sure whether he would ever survive a hopeless situation that causes lifelong trauma.
Robert Zemeckis is a newcomer to the survival genre. Before he directed “Cast Away”, the filmmaker was known for making the Oscar-winning historical drama “Forrest Gump” also starring Tom Hanks. With “Cast Away”, however, the filmmaker crafted his first survival drama. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the hardship endured by men seeking survival on islands but he succeeded. Through stunning cinematography, Zemeckis captures a journey of a man seeking to survive islands posing catastrophe. Visually, the movie is a feast for the eyes. Zemeckis expertly uses handheld camera to capture a terrifying plane crash disaster. Shaky camera cinematography elevates the plane crash tragedy scene. During this frightening scene, Chuck becomes involved in nerve-wracking plane crashes that are life-threatening. Handheld camera captures the tense nature of a plane crash causing trauma. Shaky camera is a tricky technique. When used excessively, it cam become a distracting gimmick. However, it works immensely in this movie. Using breathtaking visuals, Zemeckis captures a man striving to survive a catastrophic plane crash disaster.
Another admirable aspect of “Cast Away” that merits appreciation is sound-design. The film is beautifully made, and uses diegetic sounds to capture survival. Throughout the movie, Zemeckis effectively uses diegetic sounds to capture a man seeking to survive on an island that’s terrifying. Whether it’s sounds of ocean waves crashing or Chuck’s screams for help on an island, Zemeckis effectively uses strong diegetic sounds to immerse viewers in the film’s setting. For instance, diegetic sounds elevate the scene where Chuck first arrives on the isolated island. During this heartbreaking scene, Chuck screams for help amidst ocean waves crashing. One admires diegetic sounds capturing the hopeless nature of Chuck’s situation. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Alan Silvestri’s score captures the emotions of survival. Through breathtaking production-design, Zemeckis captures a man surviving a mental decline.
Strong storytelling is one of the reasons why “Cast Away” remains a survival classic which is engaging. The movie is beautifully written, and expertly uses symbolism to capture the hardships faced by a man seeking to survive on islands. Zemeckis’ screenwriting strength is using symbolism to capture the importance of companionship for a man seeking to survive a hopeless situation. For instance, the volleyball Wilson represents a strong symbol of Chuck’s need for companionship on an island. Feeling loneliness, Chuck creates a colourful volleyball that he can express his feelings to. Wilson is a powerful symbol of Chuck’s hope that he would be able to survive an isolated island. Through this ingenious symbolism, Zemeckis creates a compelling character whom audiences could easily relate to. Symbolism is a complicated technique. Frank Darabont’s “The Shawshank Redemption” suggested symbolism elevates prison dramas. Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” demonstrated symbolism elevates horror movies. Nevertheless, it works tremendously. Through an incredible screenplay, Zemeckis captures the plight of a man cast away.
One appreciates astonishing performances. The film wouldn’t have become a survival classic if it weren’t for acting that’s iconic.
Tom Hanks delvers one of his greatest career performances as Chuck Noland. Hanks gained appreciation for playing men with intellectual disabilities. With “Cast Away”, however, he took on his most challenging role. It’s demanding to portray the personality of a man cast away on an island, but he succeeded. Not only did Hanks gain weight for the role but he captured strong emotion faced by a man seeking survival. With mesmerizing expressions, he conveys the angst, determination and resilience of a man seeking to survive an isolated island. Hanks is tasked with challenges of carrying the film on his shoulders as the only actor onscreen, but he succeeds. It’s a powerful performance which showcases the strengths of one of the world’s best movie-stars today.
Finally, “Cast Away” is one of those films that would blow everyone away for its strong portrayal of survival today. Unlike most survival movies, the film tackles universal themes everyone would relate to. It discusses timely themes including identity, mental health and survival which would impact everyone. Viewers aren’t required to be fans of survival dramas to appreciate it. The movie delivers a universal message impacting everyone affected by trauma at an early age. Therefore, “Cast Away” is one of those rare survival movies that everyone would adore.
Fans of survival dramas will definitely appreciate “Cast Away” and so will movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment.
Nearly 30 years following the iconic release of a captivating classic about men cast away seeking to survive on islands with a painful price to pay, it’s a riveting reminder of a fantastic movie that forever changed the way that survival situations were seen in the world that managed to portray the painful emotions faced by individuals seeking to survive catastrophe that left behind a lasting legacy which definitely without a doubt deserves to be celebrated today.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 
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