Every Tom Hanks and Robert Zemeckis Movie Collaboration, Ranked

Over the past 30 years, the actor’s cinematic collaboration Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis has stood out as one of the most beloved partnerships in modern cinema. Of Forest Gump for their upcoming fifth film together HereHanks and Zemeckis managed to walk the fine line between mainstream popular appeal and lasting art that has truly stood the test of time. With a lot of humor and a lot of compassion, Hanks and Zemeckis made the best of their careers together.

Hanks and Zemeckis’ collaboration included incredible moments, like their extraordinary work on Shipwrecked, and some low points, like the lackluster accountability of his version of Pinocchio. But whatever the outcome, this duo has always strived for quality and, in the process, delivered some of cinema’s most iconic characters and breathtaking works of fiction. With the 2024 release of fixed camera film Here on the horizon, it seems audiences didn’t see the end of Hanks and Zemeckis’ acclaimed collaborationand hopefully, they’ll have a lot more work together in the future.

5

Pinocchio (2022)

Tom Hanks as Geppetto

While any collaboration between Tom Hanks and Robert Zemeckis would be an exciting prospect, even their harshest defenders must admit they missed the mark with Pinocchio. This live-action adaptation of a classic Italian story didn’t have the appeal of Disney’s beloved 1940 version, and was unfortunately released the same year as Guillermo del Toro. Pinocchioa far superior and far more relevant retelling of the same story. While Hanks as Gepetoo ​​may have initially seemed like a good idea, everything about this film felt unnecessary.

Zemeckis’ version Pinocchio was unable to justify its existence in the same way as other children’s releases featuring Hanks, such as The Polar Expresssucceeded, and although the visuals looked great, the script failed to capture the same magic. Sadly, Pinocchio has joined the ranks of Disney’s worst recent live-action and photorealistic releases, and along with the updated version of Dumbo and Lady and the Trampit was quickly forgotten by the public. Most of all, it was hard to get excited about Zemeckis’ lackluster Pinocchio, while Del Toro’s version generated much more enthusiasm and received much more praise.

Although it is true that Pinocchio was a huge disappointment, it must also be admitted that Hanks gave a decent performance as Geppetto, and he, along with the look, was one of the strongest aspects of the film. However, there was a lack of chemistry between Geppetto and the puppet-come-to-life, Pinocchio, as it felt like the film didn’t take the necessary time to build their relationship and show them spending time together. Instead of, Pinocchio has relied heavily on previous representations of this story to serve as shorthand for their inseparable bond.

While many Disney live-action remakes have received theatrical treatment, Pinocchio it was a direct release from Disney Plus that suggested, before it was even released, that it wouldn’t live up to the legacy of the original. While Pinocchio it wasn’t unwatchable by any means, it just didn’t feel like a movie that needed to be made, and it represented a low point for Hanks and Zemeckis together. The negative reception for Pinocchio it also earned him several Razzie nominations, including Worst Picture and Worst Actor for Hanks, and also won the award for Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel.

4

Here (2024)

Tom Hanks as Richard Young

In addition to Zemeckis behind the camera and Hanks in front of it, Here is full of talent. The film’s script was written by Zemeckis and Eric Roth (Flower Moon Assassins). It also stars Robin Wright as Hanks’ wife, Paul Bettany as his father and Kelly Reilly as his mother. All this talent, however, didn’t exactly make the film one of the best partnerships between Hanks and Zemeckis.

The premise of the film involves highlighting a specific plot of land over an extended period of time to follow the lives of those who live there (before and after the construction of a house). A single camera in a single room of the house is used to follow the events, which means the film looks more like a filmed play than a film, and while this technique can be interesting, it doesn’t work in its favor. of history, as this means anything that happens to the characters outside of this space is covered up.

The Daily Beast points that Zemeckis “it doesn’t take advantage of the seen/unseen dynamic that its device seems designed to investigate.“This makes the focus on single space much less interesting.

Also shocking is the film’s use of CGI to keep some of the actors, like Hanks and Wright, in the same roles. Reviewers agreed that in the film it looks more like a social media filter than a finished effect. There was likely a desire to keep Hanks and Wright in the roles for as long as possible, since the film spends most of its time with them, but it doesn’t make sense to do so when other roles are played by multiple actors at different times. ages.

Many fans got into the film because of the reunion of Zemeckis, Hanks and Wright, who worked together on Forest Gumpbut ultimately the film is more disappointing than the original work put together.

3

The Polar Express (2004)

Tom Hanks in various roles

The Polar Express achieved the impossible; presented a new Christmas film for the 21st century that can be spoken about with the same kind of love and admiration as It’s a wonderful life or Miracle on 34th Street. Based on a 1985 children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg The Polar Express was a visual marvel that featured Tom Hanks playing multiple roles as motion capture computer animation mixed with human characters. This technique gave The Polar Express a unique visual style that made him stand out on the 2004 film scene.

Although Zemeckis has made films that would appeal to children, such as Romance with the Stone and the Back to the future franchise, The Polar Express it felt different and was praised as an instant Christmas classic. By telling the story of a boy on a mysterious train heading to Santa Claus and the North Pole, Hanks and Zemeckis captured something profound about the wondrous magic of the holiday season. Even the style of the film itself contributed to its unusual atmosphere because although the characters sometimes seemed a little scary, that was also part of its unique appeal.

The look of The Polar Express We date it in retrospect, but the love and care with which Hanks and Zemeckis presented this story means it has stood the test of time. With a strong festive atmosphere, the film played to Zemeckis’ strengths as a director, and in his voice work, Hanks tapped into the same energetic, iconic mannerisms that made Woody a Toy story such an enduring animation icon. Hanks utilized his skills in many roles, including Hero Boy, the train conductor, Ebenezer Scrooge’s puppet, and even Santa Claus himself.

In essence, The Polar Express was an enduring Christmas story that has always been a holiday favorite and, for many, has become a must read every December. While much of the criticism the film received was related to the uncanny valley feeling of its character portrayal, this only meant that it was a product of its time, and risks like this were necessary to push the animation forward and test the limits of special effects. . The technical realization of The Polar Express it was part of his legacy, and today, looking back, it stands out as a solid entry into Hanks and Zemeckis’ acclaimed collaborative works.

2

Forrest Gump (1994)

Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump

Forest Gump was a box office success that appealed to all viewers and became the highest-grossing film of 1994. As the first cinematic collaboration between Tom Hanks and Robert Zemeckis, this unique film retold the story of modern America through lived experience. of an extraordinary person with below average intelligence. With a vast history that spanned from the birth of rock ‘n’ roll to the aftermath of the Vietnam War, part of the appeal of Forest Gump it was how well it combined comedy and drama.

With the famous phrase “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get”, Hanks’ portrayal of Forrest was one of the most iconic of his entire career. For his work in Forest GumpHanks took home the Oscar for Best Actor, and the film swept the ceremony with six wins, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. With a serious performance with a lot of heart, Hanks walked a fine line in his characterization, which, in the hands of another actor, could have come across as exaggerated or even offensive.

Forest Gump was an ode to 20th-century America that highlighted that, in the land of the free, anyone could make a huge impact and leave their mark on popular culture. While Forest Gump could be enjoyed by all viewers, but it was also filled with complexity and political symbolism, as Forrest interacted with real historical events and came face to face with everyone from John F. Kennedy to John Lennon. The film’s exclusive use of special effects inserted Forrest into historical archival footage, which gave Forest Gump an effective sense of realism.

As the highest-grossing film of Zemeckis’ career Forest Gump grossed an astonishing worldwide gross of US$678,226,465 (through Collider) and signaled a high point for the acclaimed director in mainstream popular appeal. The legacy of Zemeckis’ work with Hanks in Forest Gump would fuel all future collaborations, and viewers consistently showed up to see if they could repeat the incredible success of their first release. In the three decades since its launch, Forest Gump it has remained an important film to be enjoyed by all subsequent generations.

1

Expelled (2000)

Tom Hanks as Chuck Noland

Being the story of a lonely man stranded on an uninhabited island, it was incredible that Castaway It managed to be exciting from start to finish. Led by an incredible performance from Tom Hanks and a truly stunning script from William Broyles Jr., Castaway it represented the best of Robert Zemeckis’ collaboration with Hanks, and it perfectly represented what made their partnership work so well while keeping it to a minimum. Castaway it felt like a true cinematic experience, as audiences were subjected to the grueling challenges, tortuous hardships, and occasional joys of this survival story.

Hanks played Chuck Noland, a FedEx systems analyst who, after surviving a plane crash in the Pacific Ocean, was washed ashore and forced to survive alone on an island. Over the years, Chuck became bearded and disheveled, but he also came to know and understand the island’s customs. With nothing but a Wilson volleyball to keep him company, the power of Castaway was played entirely by Hanks, who carried the emotional weight of the film on his shoulders and proved that he was one of the greatest actors of the modern era.

Castaway had several inspirations that fueled its compelling story, as real survival experts were consulted about the realities of those who were isolated and the means by which one man could adapt and survive. The film was also inspired by Daniel Defoe’s classic adventure novel Robinson Crusoe, which similarly told the story of a shipwrecked man on a remote, deserted tropical island. These details contributed to the realism at the heart of the Castaways story, while viewers questioned how they would deal with the same difficulties as Chuck.

The success of Castaway it was due to the fantastic way in which Hanks and Zemeckis worked together. As this was the first film on which Hanks also served as a producer, he was more involved than ever behind the scenes of the production. Following Forrest Gump, Hanks and Zemeckis had already established a strong working relationship and were able to take this even further in Castaway. As a true highlight in both careers, Castaway represented the best of Hanks and Zemeckisat least until now.

Source: Collider, The Daily Beast