To limit the undeniable career of the illustrious Tom Hanks to just five films is no easy task, as there can be countless top five lists of his most amazing films. With the release of his biopic "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," I take a look at my (likely first of many) five favorite Tom Hanks films.
**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**
#5
Sleepless in Seattle
In one of Nora Ephron's most iconic directorial films, Tom Hanks plays a recently widowed single father who tells his story over the airwaves and draws the attention of countless female suitors in the process, including Meg Ryan's Annie Reed, who's engaged to another man. In their first romantic comedy pairing, Hanks and Ryan's chemistry is undeniable, and the film itself raised the bar for typical romcoms by earning two Academy Award nominations including Best Screenplay.
#4
Big
In the annals of cinematic history, there's several moments that've become iconic, and the scene in "Big" that's become memorable is when Tom Hanks dances across the large piano keys on the ground, but there's so much more to this lovable comedy. Hanks plays a grown-up version of a kid who wishes he was big, and next thing he knows he's an adult and has to deal with adult situations. Hanks perfectly plays the part with youthful innocence and vigor and remains one of his most iconic performances.
#3
Philadelphia
Earning his historic back-to-back Academy Award wins for Best Actor, Tom Hanks plays Andy Beckett, who gets fired from his job after being diagnosed with AIDS, and sues the company. Fellow heavy-hitter Denzel Washington plays his lawyer, and the film gives an unflinching look at how people were paranoid of the AIDS epidemic and the injustices that occurred during the time, and Hanks more than earned his Oscar statue for his commanding performance.
#2
Saving Private Ryan
In Steven Spielberg's unflinching war epic, Tom Hanks stars as Captain Miller, who is tasked with leading a group of soldiers into enemy territory after the invasion of Normandy to rescue paratrooper Private Ryan. The film is still hailed for its powerful visuals (especially the Normandy invasion), as well as the stellar performances of Tom Hanks and fellow A-listers including Matt Damon, Edward Burns, Vin Diesel, Tom Sizemore and Paul Giamatti.
#1
Forrest Gump
In his most memorable performance, Tom Hanks plays Forrest Gump, an Alabama man with subpar intelligence who finds his way into the most memorable events in history, and shows the world what true heart is about. Hanks earned himself an Academy Award for his performance, and remains as timeless and memorable today as it was back then.
Major Theatrical Releases May 2019 After the hype that is "Avengers: Endgame," May offers a massive collection of differing types of movies, enough to entertain everyone. Here are the major theatrical releases for May 2019. **THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS** **DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE** The Intruder May 3 Dennis Quaid goes from starring the family-friendly "A Dog's Journey" to playing a total psycho in "The Intruder." When a young couple purchases a home from Quaid's character Charlie, they didn't realize it came with an addition - Charlie himself, who can't seem to let his old home go. I don't expect any twists or turns in this tale, and this looks like a film better fit for Lifetime than the big screen. Long Shot May 3 Charlize Theron stars as Charlotte Field, the current Secretary of State and who's running for President. Seth Rogen stars as Fred Flarsky, a
Witch Starring Russell Shaw, Ryan Spong, Sarah Alexandra Marks, Fabrizio Santino Directed by Craig Hinde & Marc Zammit Movies about witches are about a dime a dozen, and follow the same formula: typically set in a time period long ago (since now, fortunately, the stigma of witches has been lessened and the religious fervor has diminished), in a small Puritanical town, a girl is accused of witchcraft which spirals the town into a frenzy filled with suspicion, doubt, and murder until the witch is put to religious justice. While that's not necessarily a bad formula (Robert Eggers' "The VVitch" and Mario Bava's "Black Sunday" immediately come to mind), most films fall by the wayside. "Witch" is a small film that, at first glance, seems to follow the mold before completely shattering it in a second act twist that's daring, provocative, and works in a lot of levels, but could've been more pronounced if given a bigger budget. In the small
Special Review: "Midwest Sessions" Directed by Mario Ricciardi Independent filmmaking is a fascinating concept, wherein the director and everyone involved sets out to make something unique, different, and go against the traditional status quo of what's defined as a "blockbuster." These films aren't usually seen by the masses and won't be included in the top ten highest grossing movies of all time, but they offer something those films don't: a heart and commitment by the people involved to craft something wholly distinctive that tell a story in their own way. Such is "Midwest Sessions," a local film directed by Mario Ricciardi that centers on the city of Youngstown, Ohio, and the captivating people who live there. Told in different vignettes that seem distinct and different from one another but coming together as a whole in the end, it's an engrossing film that utilizes its shoestring budget and gives great performances, decent effects a
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