Happy (T)hanksgiving!
In order to celebrate the annual day of giving thanks for the things that truly matter in life, such as America's national treasure T. Hanks, I've listed my favorite performances from the immeasurably lovable actor.
Here are my honorable mentions: Multiple Roles in The Polar Express (2004), Robert Langdon in The Da Vinci Code (2006), Sam Baldwin in Sleepless In Seattle (1993), Woody in the Toy Story franchise (1995-2019).
10. Carl Hanratty in Catch Me If Your Can (2002)
In this thrilling Steven Spielberg flick, Hanks plays an remarkably cold role when compared to how amiable and warm his characters often are. As the FBI officer chasing the film's main criminal Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio), Hanks's character Carl Hanratty is the de-facto 'good guy' in the film's story, yet he is also the antagonist since the story is told largely from Abagnale's perspective. He walks this line well, making for a very memorable and solid performance.
9. Captain Richard Phillips in Captain Phillips (2013)
Hanks pulls off a very intense performance as real-life merchant mariner Richard Phillips in this thrilling film about an infamous hijacking. The actor goes into all-out survival mode in his gripping performance, as his character's ship is hijacked by Somali pirates and he must find a way out of the predicament. Hanks carries the lead role with grace, adding to his legacy of playing heroic characters in tough situations.
8. Charles Wilson in Charlie Wilson's War (2007)
For this Aaron Sorkin -written political drama, Hanks was cast into a role very much out of his comfort zone: a douchebag. Sure, the film paints congressman Charlie Wilson as an ultimately redeemable and good-hearted man, but his flaws are very prominent throughout the film. One has seen Tom Hanks in so many lovable good-guy roles, that it's weird to see him as an arrogant womanizer - but being the skilful actor that he is, he does a great job with the role. Charlie Wilson's War makes for a nice and different addition to the actor's impressive filmography.
7. Viktor Navorski in The Terminal (2004)
Sure, one could raise the question of why Steven Spielberg didn't cast an Eastern-European actor in the role of an Eastern-European lead character who is supposed to have a strong accent. Maybe he just had such a strong vision of Tom Hanks in such an amiable and heartfelt role that he couldn't picture anyone else pulling it off. Whatever the reasons for this slightly unusual casting, Hanks does a wonderful job as Viktor Navorski in this heartwarming film.
The actor's comedic chops are at the top of their game, he gets to show some emotional range towards the end, and even the accent is delightfully credible. All in all, a very solid performance in what I consider to be a vastly underrated Spielberg flick and one of my favorite comedies.
6. Paul Edgecomb in The Green Mile (1999)
A heartfelt performance for a tragic film. In this Stephen King adaptation, Hanks plays prison guard Paul Edgecomb, who develops a bond with death row inmate John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan). It's an emotionally raw performance, as Hanks's acting range plays well with the movie's grim setting. His facial expressions and emotionally charged lines towards the end of the film are heartbreaking, making the lead performance one of the best aspects in this all-around great film.
5. Captain Miller in Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Even in a cast consisting entirely of awesome talent from Matt Damon and Giovanni Ribisi to Barry Pepper and Edward Burns, Hanks manages to outshine his castmembers to provide the best performance in a movie filled with great performances. Hanks plays the role of an archetypical high-ranking soldier, as his character Captain Miller has his doubts about his mission but still carries through and encourages his frustrated team to do the same. The emotional power of his famous "Earn this. Earn it" line is delivered with perfection, and is definitely one of the most impressive moments in Hanks's career.
4. Josh in Big (1988)
This goofy feel-good film may not quite have the cinematic value of Saving Private Ryan or The Green Mile, but acting-performance-wise, Hanks does an even better job in this late 80's classic than in the aforementioned films. The film is all about a teenage boy who wishes to be an adult - and to his amazement, the wish comes through. Hanks plays the adult body that little Josh is transported into, and playing the role of a kid living in a grown-up body is a tough job.
Hanks not only manages to get the job done, but very much proves to be the best possible actor for the job. The childlike enthusiasm and body-swapping confusion of the character come across brilliantly, making for a fantastic performance that earned Hanks the first of his many Oscar nominations.
3. Chuck Noland in Cast Away (2000)
I knew quite a lot about this film through pop culture references before I actually saw it. I was therefore surprised to see how much runtime is dedicated to Tom Hanks's character not being stranded on an island - we spend a lot of time getting to know him before the plane crash happens, and not spoil any specifics, but a lot of aftermath to his survival story is also followed. In a way, this makes his powerhouse performance even more impressive, because the film isn't just about him trying to survive on a deserted island - it's a full-fledged character-driven story, where a complex character is established and who then undergoes changes through a life-changing event. Following his character development is fascinating.
Still, the very best part about this performance is the vast majority of the film that takes place on the island. I'll say the same thing I said about Leonardo DiCaprio's performance in The Revenant (2015) - no matter how interesting the premise, the film would be inescapably boring unless there was a truly great actor playing the role. Having only one actor on-screen for such a long duration is a major risk to take, but Hanks manages to play the role in such an interesting and complex fashion that boredom never even enters the equation. His survival is thrilling and fascinating to follow, proving that he truly was the right man for the job once again.
2. Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump (1994)
Tom Hanks has many strengths as an actor, but I'd say his foremost one is the sheer heart he puts into his performances. With the exception of a few villainous roles, he mostly plays extremely amiable characters with a heartfelt energy that you can't help but love - and that is at its very best in Forrest Gump, for which the actor won his second Academy Award. He plays title character Forrest Gump, a mentally challenged and good-hearted man, with grace and aplomb.
An appropriate amount of humor is mixed into the performance, as Forrest winding up in numerous historical events is quite amusing to follow, but he also plays the hell out of the more serious and dramatic sequences. It is certainly one of the most lovable acting performances of all time, and a perfect example of a lead actor really bringing a script to life.
1. Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia (1993)
The very first thing to applaud concerning this critically acclaimed performance is the mere fact that Hanks took the job - back in 1993, homophobic attitudes were all the rage in society, and it took some guts for America's most beloved actor to play the role of a gay man suffering from AIDS, knowing that some demographics would lose respect for him in the process. I'd like to think that there were more people who saw the film and re-evaluated their values because of it, than people who simply turned against Hanks because of the role.
Anyways, role-picking courage aside, the performance itself is absolutely mesmerizing and certainly deserving of the Oscar that Hanks won for it. In many ways, he plays the very representation of the marginalized groups that the film tried to destigmatize: a kind, good-hearted man, who is in trouble because some bigots can't see past his orientation.
Watching him play such a likable person who undergoes so much suffering is absolutely heartbreaking, and Hanks's emotional range is fantastic throughout the film. The scene where he dances by himself to opera music is a beautiful moment of self-expression, that will certainly resonate with a lot of viewers. There aren't many actors who have as many amazing performances on their resumé as Tom Hanks, but even with so many to choose from, I can easily say that Philadelphia is the actor's finest hour.
Thank you for reading! Tune in next Thursday for my list of the top 10 greatest Finnish films of all time, in celebration of our upcoming Independence Day!
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