Oscar History
Film Bitch History
Welcome

The Film Experience™ was created by Nathaniel R. All material herein is written by our team. (This site is not for profit but for an expression of love for cinema & adjacent artforms.)

Follow TFE on Substackd

Powered by Squarespace
Keep TFE Strong

We're looking for 500... no 390 SubscribersIf you read us daily, please be one.  

I ♥ The Film Experience

THANKS IN ADVANCE

What'cha Looking For?
Subscribe
« Trailers for Short Oscar finalists | Main | Mad Max & Fashionable Kate lead the 'Australian Oscar' nominations »
Friday
Oct302015

Morning Truth Tell: Tom Hanks...

Tom Hanks is giving way better performances recently (Captain Phillips, Bridge of Spies) than the ones he used to win Oscars for. 

PrintView Printer Friendly Version

EmailEmail Article to Friend

References (2)

References allow you to track sources for this article, as well as articles that were written in response to this article.

Reader Comments (45)

My first Oscars were the '91 Oscars: Silence of the Lambs, Davis and Sarandon together in one category, the cornrows of Juliette! I was 13 and thought every Oscar winner must be carefully elected and completely deserving.
Those two Hanks wins, beginning just two ceremonies later, were the rug being pulled, a nudge toward the hard reality that voters can make mistakes, and not every Oscar means much of anything, that perhaps no Oscar means much of anything.
So, for the disillusionment I suffered at 15, and the hard lessons it taught, I thank thee, voters of Tom Hanks, for passing over Laurence Fishburne, Liam Neeson, Anthony Hopkins in Remains (!), Paul Newman and John Travolta.
You gotta love the Oscars in spite of their choices more often than you get to love them for them.

October 30, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterMike in Canada

I agree, especially considering the films he won them for were dreck that have aged poorly.

October 30, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterRyan

Completely agree! I was just going off the other day about how this is the Golden Age of Tom Hanks and people weren't listening. I even thought he was really strong in Saving Mr. Banks.

Philadelphia, and especially Forrest Gump, actually got me to believe that I didn't like Tom Hanks, when he was doing great work in less Oscar-friendly movies (Joe vs. the Volcano, A League of Their Own..)

October 30, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterConrado Falco

Why was wrong with the performances he gave in Forest Gump and Philadelphia? Curious to know. I think Captain Phillips could be his best acting to date.

October 30, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterBlueMoon02

Does this mean Hanks and Spielberg should anticipate third Oscars for acting and directing?

October 30, 2015 | Unregistered Commenterbates partisan

I agree but I think some of his earlier comedic work (specifically The Money Pit and Big) trump them both, as do his work in Apollo 13 and Cast Away.

October 30, 2015 | Unregistered Commentereurocheese

He should have won for Cast Away and possibly Saving Private Ryan. He would have been a very worthy nominee for Captain Phillips.

October 30, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterRaul

I think the first Oscar was deserved. But the second? Newman was robbed, and actually, Hanks didn't even deserve to be nommed.

October 30, 2015 | Unregistered Commenterbrookesboy

Sorry, can't agree on this one. I grew up watching his performances in both Philadelphia and Forrest Gump. Both movies have problems, but he's outstanding in both and I can definitely see why the Academy saw fit to reward him for both. I know it's not okay to like Forrest Gump around these parts, but you know what: I don't freaking care!!! There are individual moments in that film I always laugh at or are moved by. As for Philadelphia, yes, the opera scene always gets me and I feel Denzel Washington was ignored in it.

Having said that, I love the work he's been doing recently (even though I'm glad he didn't do an unnecessary accent on Bridge of Spies like he did in Captain Phillips, even though I still love him in that latter movie) although I don't think anything has trumped his work in Big (which was his first Oscar nomination and a worthy one, since he finds the truth in a performance that could have been way over the top and thankfully isn't)...

October 30, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterRichter Scale

I don't think anyone can honestly believe Tom Hanks is a bad actor. The problem I have with him is that he's always the hero. Even in a role like Road to Perdition, one of his best and certainly awards-worthy, he's in "bad guys are people too" mode. I think he ever nailed a role where he was a straight-up villain, awards would fall at his feet. His timing and the complexity that he brings to his best performances tells me it's in him. Think a Gene Hackman in Unforgiven type role. Hanks would kill that.

October 30, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterSawyer

Yes, agree they're better, BUT his recent work still doesn't prompt me to call him Best Living Actor (just like "Forrest Gump," Philadelphia," and "Saving Private Ryan" prompted half the world back in the 90s to call him exactly that).

FWIW, I think "Big," "A League of Their Own," and "Captain Phillips" are excellent turns. I remember loving him in "Cast Away" when I saw it back in 2000. They years, however, have soured it.

October 30, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterBVR

Am I crazy to think he was excellent even in the otherwise awful Saving Mr. Banks?

October 30, 2015 | Unregistered Commentercal roth

the final 10 minutes of Captain Phillips is heartbreaking because of how beautifully Hank's falls apart emotionally when being seen by the doctor. I've never see him do that depth and rawness, without histrionics. it was one of the most realistic portrayals of shock I've ever seen

October 30, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterIanO

Ian () --i agree 100%.

Cal -- no he was good in that one, too.

Sawyer -- i'm not sure i need him to do that, BUT i think maybe he could pull it off if he let his barriers of likability down.

October 30, 2015 | Registered CommenterNATHANIEL R

Ryan: I'm not too mean on Forrest Gump (it's silly, ahistoric and probably shouldn't have WON, but is an understandable nominee in Picture and Actor, especially at the time), but Philadelphia? Whoo boy is that a festering trainwreck of a central turn, never really feeling like a human being.
Sawyer: Hanks as an out and out villain might actually be fun. Maybe Star-Lord's dad in GOTG 2? (Even in alien makeup, I'd get Tom Hanks as a dad to Chris Pratt from a looks standpoint way more than Matthew McConaughey. And yes, I know neither should be old enough from a literal standpoint, but this franchise involves aliens, after all, so accounting for alternate lifespans it can still make more sense than how they got away with it in old Hollywood films.)

October 30, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterVolvagia

"Sorry, can't agree on this one. I grew up watching his performances in both Philadelphia and Forrest Gump. Both movies have problems, but he's outstanding in both and I can definitely see why the Academy saw fit to reward him for both."

I agree. Both movies have issues but he is good in them.

October 30, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterJackie

He was incredible in Philadelphia, okay the performance from that film that should have won best actor that year was given by Denzel Washington , but still ...

October 30, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterRami

Rami: See, I wouldn't even nominate Denzel for that work. I mean, he comes off more animated than Hanks, but it's just a 10th place performance. My Lead Actor ballot that year, ordered from best to worst, looks like:

Bruce Campbell
Liam Neeson
Al Pacino
Bill Murray
Harvey Keitel
(6-10, for clarity: Christian Slater, True Romance, Danny Elfman, A Nightmare Before Christmas, Leslie Cheung, Farewell My Concubine, Sam Neill, Jurassic Park, Denzel Washington, Philadelphia.)

October 30, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterVolvagia

I hope he's great in bridge. He WAS brilliant in Captain Phillips.

October 30, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterAnonny

Sawyer and Nat - didn't he play a villain in The Ladykillers? I never saw it so I'm not certain, but I thought that was the hook of that movie.

November 2, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterDJDeeJay

it is an amazing app. the features are so easy and simple. you must give garageband for pc a try.

March 4, 2018 | Unregistered CommenterSujata Sen

Thanks for sharing this content. Check it it asset management software

December 14, 2018 | Unregistered CommenterMerry Jhon

Thanks for sharing such a great post. You can read best iphone emulator

December 14, 2018 | Unregistered CommenterMariya Adems

Thanks for sharing such a good content. massage chair buying guide

December 14, 2018 | Unregistered CommenterMerry

Thanks for sharing such a good and informative content. Read my post about tattoo ideas for men

December 15, 2018 | Unregistered CommenterMarry

Thanks for sharing this well researched content. check my website about ps3 emulator apk

December 16, 2018 | Unregistered CommenterNaresh

Thanks for sharing such a nice post about Best Security Camera Buying Guide

October 11, 2019 | Unregistered CommenterAndrew

I love Tom Hanks. Thank you for the post best movies

October 11, 2019 | Unregistered CommenterScott

this blog is very nice its very use ful
selenium online training

November 14, 2019 | Unregistered Commenterraj12

nice post ! thanks for sharing.

November 19, 2019 | Unregistered Commenterwhitemushroom

nice post your site to good .

November 19, 2019 | Unregistered Commenterwhitemushroom

your site is to good thanks
Astro Marriage Solution

November 20, 2019 | Unregistered Commenterherry123

great post

November 22, 2019 | Unregistered Commenterjerry123

great post thanks
inspirational quotes love

November 22, 2019 | Unregistered Commenterjerry123

This is one of the best blog I have read. Thanks for making my day :) And yes it’s a request from one of your reader i.e me, keep posting such great and informative blogs.
Website: Concrete Singh

November 24, 2019 | Unregistered Commenterikka23

This is one of the best blog I have read. Thanks for making my day :) And yes it’s a request from one of your reader i.e me, keep posting such great and informative blogs. ! Such a great post ! thanks for sharing !

website: custom lockets

November 25, 2019 | Unregistered Commenterpoul23

actions. Some magazines are supposed to appeal to a broad range of readers, many others are made to interest
chopal

November 28, 2019 | Unregistered Commenterchopal

also include items which will sustain you for a couple of days just in case your checked luggage does get lost. You definitely don't want to go shopping for things that you need instantly as soon as you arrive in your destination

November 28, 2019 | Unregistered CommenterMoney

also include items which will sustain you for a couple of days just in case your checked luggage does get lost. You definitely don't want to go shopping for things that you need instantly as soon as you arrive in your destination
thigh flask holder

November 28, 2019 | Unregistered CommenterMoney

Download GarageBand for Windows PC & Laptop for free. Actually garageband is an iOS app which cant be directly used in any Windows PC. Policy Disclaimer Work With Us! GDPR Policy GarageBand for Windows PC – Download for FREE Garageband is a popular music app available on ... GarageBand for Windows PC

December 3, 2019 | Unregistered CommenterGarageband for Windows

Kanhai Jewels – An Indian Kundan Jewellery, Bridal Kundan Jewellery Manufacturers, Wholesalers and Suppliers based in Mumbai, India.

February 24, 2020 | Unregistered Commenterjeweller45

This is my first comment here, so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I genuinely enjoy reading your articles
Best Adventure Tour Packages

July 7, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterTriptoVietnam

Nice post ! I love its your site after reading ! thanks for sharing.
Visit : Renew passport malaysia online|Renew passport malaysia price|Renew malaysia passport in singapore

Member Account Required
You must have a member account to comment. It's free so register here.. IF YOU ARE ALREADY REGISTERED, JUST LOGIN.