Cast Away

Tom Hanks gets real skinny in this very watchable, if often uncomfortable, tale of a rush-rush businessman who gets stranded on an island with nothing but coconuts and a volleyball. Hanks accomplishes the impressive feat of making us care for more than two hours, while he’s the only person on screen, and director Robert Zemeckis does a solid job with the pacing and sense of dread. The beginning and ending of the film are a bit underdeveloped, but that’s just quibbling. Hanks will certainly get another Oscar nomination for this one, and that volleyball has officially found a special place in my heart. Poor bastard.