Tom Hanks, revered for his enduring and prolific acting career, has graced us with a diverse range of memorable characters across almost every genre. With a filmography spanning over five decades and a staggering 80 movies, his journey commences curiously with a minor role in the 1980 slasher film He Knows You’re Alone. However, one film had a huge impact on the actor.
Hanks comfortably transitioned into a decade of timeless comedies from the era, with standouts like The Money Pit, Big, and Turner and Hooch. Throughout the 1990s, he forged strong partnerships with the unforgettable, highly skilled, and dearly missed writer/director Nora Ephron. As the 2000s rolled in, he embarked on award-winning and productive creative alliances with renowned filmmakers such as Ron Howard, Robert Zemeckis, and Steven Spielberg.
Tom Hanks Loved Coen Brothers’ Neo-noir Film
While curating a list of his top five favorite films for the German magazine Bild, encompassing classics such as The Godfather and 2001: A Space Odyssey, along with unconventional picks like Boogie Nights, Tom Hanks singled out a particular work by the Coen brothers. This selection shed light on the specific elements within a film that captivate his interest. The chosen film was the iconic, neo-noir masterpiece from 1996, Fargo.
Hanks said (Via Farout):
“That’s what I’m looking for when I go to see a film, just like any other cinemagoer. The period, the topic or the genre don’t matter to me. The only thing that matters for me is: ‘Boy, what would you do if that were you?'”
Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, this darkly humorous film, set in a frigid backdrop, unravels the comically calamitous aftermath of a man’s scheme to hire two hitmen for his wife’s abduction. Known for its distinctive Minnesota accent and its iconic pregnant protagonist, Marge Gunderson, Fargo stands as a cinematic masterpiece. In Hanks’ words, it prompts contemplation about one’s response in a similar scenario and elicits gratitude for being spared such circumstances.
Tom Hanks Thinks He Has Only Done 4 Great Movies
Recently, Tom Hanks penned and published his inaugural novel, titled “The Creation of Yet Another Cinematic Masterpiece.” Within its pages, the book delves into the intricacies of the film industry, unveiling the enchantment and craftsmanship that bring movies into existence over the course of numerous decades. It also offers a glimpse into the evolving landscape of American culture since World War II. An unexpected revelation in the novel is Hanks’ assertion that, in his illustrious career, he has only contributed to a mere four “pretty good” films.
Hanks wrote (via People):
“The source for a movie can go back as many years as are in history. A story turns on a single moment in the life of someone, then all the anecdotes of the current day magnify that moment. Going back to 1947 makes sense, as would have starting in, say, 1559. Human yearning has proven to be timeless. I’ve made a ton of movies (and four of them are pretty good, I think) and I’m still amazed at how films come together. From a flicker of an idea to the flickering image onscreen, the whole process is a miracle.”
As for the identity of these films, Hanks disclosed his top three choices from his career during an interview on The Bill Simmons Podcast. He mentioned that apart from Forrest Gump, the films Cloud Atlas, A League of Their Own, and Cast Away ranked as the top three productions that he found immensely gratifying to work on.
