Cast Away (2000)

All Critics (157) | Top Critics (38) | Fresh (138) | Rotten (16) | DVD (33)

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.

June 24, 2006 Full Review

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Top Critic

Hanks's Everyman quality has never been more aptly utilized: He's the perfect stand-in for all of us who never made it to Eagle Scout.

September 26, 2002 Full Review | Comment (1)

Peter Rainer

New York Magazine

Top Critic

Cast Away isn't the first to recognize our modern need for primal tales, but it is among the most accomplished. It plugs straight into our unplugged fantasies.

March 19, 2002 Full Review | Comment (1)

Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

Top Critic

Hanks conducts a master class in acting by showing a man losing his sense of himself in fractional gradations.

June 4, 2001

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Top Critic

The scenes of Hanks' complete isolation on the island, where barely a sound is heard for minutes at a time, are the best thing about Cast Away.

December 22, 2000 Full Review | Comment (1)

Peter Howell

Toronto Star

Top Critic

Cast Away amounts to little more than an unprecedented showcase for its star.

December 22, 2000 Full Review | Comment (1)

Susan Stark

Detroit News

Top Critic

one-man show

May 16, 2012 Full Review | Comment (1)

John A. Nesbit

Old School Reviews

Tom Hanks' powerful, brutal and mature story.

December 22, 2010 Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

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."

September 25, 2010 Full Review

Nick Rogers

Suite101.com

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.

December 7, 2009 Full Review

Brian Orndorf

BrianOrndorf.com

This is a very original film. There's hope for Hollywood yet, folks.

April 29, 2009 Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

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

August 7, 2008 Full Review | Comment (1)

Bob Grimm

Sacramento News & Review

Zemeckis' tranquil control never wavers.

February 3, 2008 Full Review | Comments (2)

Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

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

December 8, 2007 Full Review | Comments (2)

James Plath

Movie Metropolis

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

July 14, 2007 Full Review

Joe Lozito

Big Picture Big Sound

Thoroughly entertaining and skillfully rendered.

January 5, 2007 Full Review | Comment (1)

Doris Toumarkine

Film Journal International

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.

December 6, 2005 Full Review | Comments (3)

Ron Wells

Film Threat

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

December 6, 2004

Jeffrey Overstreet

Looking Closer

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.

January 9, 2004 Full Review | Comment (1)

Eugene Novikov

Film Blather

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

May 14, 2003 | Comment (1)

Jeanne Aufmuth

Palo Alto Weekly

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.

March 19, 2003 Full Review | Comments (14)

Nick Davis

Nick's Flick Picks

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.

February 8, 2003 Full Review | Comment (1)

John R. McEwen

Film Quips Online

Cast Away says what you (yes, you) would end up doing if you were on a deserted island.

December 12, 2002 Full Review | Comment (1)

Jeff Ryan

Katrillion.com

An enjoyable, moving drama in which you'll believe a man can love a volleyball. Highly recommended.

October 30, 2002 Full Review | Comment (1)

Matthew Turner

ViewLondon

Hanks made more faces and walked around with his mouth open more than I might have liked, but he has a way of revealing his thoughts without words that kept me intrigued.

October 21, 2002 Full Review

Jean Lowerison

San Diego Metropolitan

• 1. Chuck Noland: I'm so sad that I don't have Kelly. But I'm so grateful she was with me on that island.
  – Submitted by Kevin H (6 months ago)
• 1. Bettina Peterson: You look lost.
  2. Chuck Noland: I do?
  3. Bettina Peterson: Where you heading?
  4. Chuck Noland: Well, I was just about to figure that out.
  – Submitted by Kevin H (6 months ago)
• 1. Chuck Noland: Now I know what I have to do now. I gotta keep breathing because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?
  – Submitted by Kevin H (6 months ago)
• 1. Chuck Noland: [crying out] WILSON! I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Wilson. Wilson, I'm sorry! I'm sorry! WILSON! I CAN'T! WILSON! WILSON!
  – Submitted by Sameer G (8 months ago)
• 1. Chuck Noland: And I know what I have to do now. I got to keep breathing. Because tomorrow, the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?
  – Submitted by Karen M (8 months ago)
• 1. Chuck Noland: I, have made fire.
  – Submitted by Kevin H (17 months ago)

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