Tom Hanks is by far one of my favorite actors of all time. He has starred in some of my favorite movies (Forrest Gump is the best, I have a cat named Lieutenant Dan) and seems like a really cool guy. He has been in the spotlight since 1978 and the 58-year-old has starred in a number of blockbuster hits. But there are a few movies of his that standout more than the rest. Here is my list of my favorite Tom Hanks Movies.
Forrest Gump, 1994
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Released in 1994, Forrest Gump is based on a novel from Winston Groom. The film is about the life of Forrest Gump, a not so intelligent guy, but happens to be present at many historical events. The movie chronicles his life and his never-ending love for Jenny. Tom Hanks really made this movie and was the perfect choice to play Forrest. I would say it is for sure one of the best performances any actor has given of any movie. John Travolta was originally chosen to play Forrest, but passed on the role. Thank goodness, I could not imagine any other actor playing Forrest. Hanks agreed to do the movie if they made sure it was historically accurate. Forrest Gump goes down as a classic and Hanks has a lot to do with that.
The Green Mile, 1999
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The Green Mile was released in 1999 and is a lengthy movie, but ultimately one of Tom Hanks best movies. The film was adapted from a Stephen King novel and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. The Green Mile is about the lives of prison guards on death row and the special events that take place. It focuses on a black man accused of murder and rape of a child but has a rare, mysterious gift. Michael Clarke Duncan played the man on death row and Hanks played one of the prison officers in charge of Duncan’s character. They really had a great onscreen chemistry. Stephen King has said that he has always envisioned Hanks as playing the character.
Cast Away, 2000
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The award-winning film was released in 2000. It is about a Fed –Ex employee who is stranded on an island after his plane crashes in the South Pacific. It documents how he tries to survive on the island. It was another epic performance by Hanks who plays the main character. He has a very unique relationship with a volleyball he names Wilson. The way Hanks interacted with an object was amazing. I am sure it has to be hard to film a movie when the only other character is a ball. He really transformed his body for this role. He gained 50 pounds to look hefty at the beginning of the film then lost a ton of weight to look like he had been on the island for years. He also grew a a pretty intense beard. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best in Actor in a Leading Role.
Toy Story Series, 1995 – Present
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Tom Hanks is the voice in one of the best Disney cartoons ever made. He does a really great job as the voice of cowboy Woody, the main toy in the film. I can really picture Tom Hanks as the part and he works really well with his on screen buddy, Buzz Light-year, voiced by Tim Allen. The first Toy Story was released in 1995 and the 4th one of the series is scheduled to be released in 2017. The Pixar series is really the first of its kind and Tom Hanks has so much to do with the success of the film. I think adults can appreciate his work more than kids. But he really can relate to the children as Woody.
