Transformer's Rosie Huntington Whitely trounces Oscar winner Tom Hanks at the Box office as Larry Crowne bombs

Double Oscar winner Tom Hanks is facing the biggest flop of his career.
His latest film Larry Crowne has bombed at the box office taking just over $16m on its opening weekend so far.
It was trounced by the blockbuster Transformers: Dark of Moon and narrowly came above a teen comedy called Monte Carlo starring Selena Gomez.

Summer hits and misses: Transformers: Dark of the Moon starring Rosie Huntington Whiteley has trounced Tom Hanks' film Larry Crowne at the box office

Despite Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington Whiteley's first foray into acting which has been met with terrible reviews of her performance, the Michael Bay movie still came up trumps.
The dismal $16m box office performance for Hanks marks a low point in the 55-year-old's career, especially as he co-wrote and directed the romantic comedy.
Larry Crowne also stars Julia Roberts who has not had a major box office hit since 2000 when she won an Oscar for her portrayal of a legal assistant in Erin Brokovich.

Flop: The double Oscar winner's film which he co-wrote and directed only brought in a dismal $16m on its opening weekend

Hanks has been one of the most popular stars of the last 20 years, appearing in blockbusters such as Forest Gump, Castaway and Saving Private Ryan.
As the voice of Woody in Toy Story he helped the latest in the series of the animated films earn over $300million at the box office.
But his latest effort about a middle aged man who loses his job and enrols in college fell flat with audiences and critics alike.
Hanks even embarked on a massive publicity drive for the film which he spent two years writing with Nia Vardalos who starred in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Bad reviews: Larry Crowne also stars Julia Roberts who hasn't had a big hit since her Oscar winning role in Erin Brokovich in 2000

An appearance on a Spanish language station where Hanks ended up dancing with a weather girl became a YouTube hit.
Hollywood experts doubt Larry Crowne will make back the $40million it took to make.
The film tells the story of supermarket worker Crowne, played by Hanks, who loses his job because he does not have a college degree.
He enrols in a college where he meets a disillusioned teacher played by Roberts and the pair fall in love.
The film also features young British actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw who is one of the stars who will meet Prince William and Kate Middleton in Hollywood later in this week.
Critics were unanimous in their dislike of Larry Crowne.

Spreading the word: Both Hanks and Whiteley went on massive publicity drives to promote their films

Writing in the Wall St Journal critic John Anderson said: 'Difficult as it is to dislike Mr. Hanks, it takes no effort to all to develop an aversion toward Larry Crowne, the alleged comedy being perpetrated today by Mr. Hanks; his director, Mr. Hanks; his producer, Mr. Hanks; and the co-writer, Mr. Hanks. It is a distinctly painful experience.'
The Daily Mail's Christopher Tookey rated it a 'turkey' and said it was the 'least watchable movie ever to star Tom Hanks.'
Financial Times critic Antonia Quirke said: 'Tom Hanks (directing himself) and Julia Roberts in a story about a dorky middle-aged man who goes to community college and becomes sexually desirable - is completely inexplicable on every level. Beyond banal; vomitous, even. […] this is a film that can only be watched in utter misery.'
Hanks won back to back Oscars for Philadelphia in 1992 and Forest Gump in 1994.
His most recent successes has been as Professor Robert Langdon in The Da Vinci Code and the follow up Demons and Angels.
Since finding fame in the comedy Big his films have taken more than $225billion at the
box office.

Still America's sweetheart: Demure Julia Roberts leads star-studded tribute to Tom Hanks

Julia Roberts came out of the self-imposed seclusion of family life on her New Mexico ranch to lead star-studded tributes to actor Tom Hanks.
The Pretty Woman star, 41, looked chic and demure in a white Dolce & Gabbana sheath dress accessorised Michelle Obama-style with a black cardigan.
And with her auburn locks tumbling over her shoulders, the mother of three appeared to be reprising the look that originally won her the soubriquet 'America's Sweetheart'.
Julia joined Hanks's friends, colleagues and co-stars in New York to honour the star with the Film Society's 36th Annual Gala Tribute at the Lincoln Center.

Just a sweetheart: Julia Roberts retained her girl-next-door image as she arrived in New York to pay tribute to actor Tom Hanks

The actress attended the Film Society Tribute for Hanks alongside Charlize Theron at New York's Lincoln Centre

Her understated style and down-to-earth looks were a treat for fans who witnessed the rare public appearance for Roberts.

 

She snubbed the Oscars ceremony this year preferring to stay at home with her husband, twins - daughter Hazel and son Phinnaeus, both four - and son Henry, one.
And ironically, she failed to show at the London premiere of film Charlie Wilson’s War in which she starred alongside Hanks two years ago.

Tom Hanks with wife Rita Wilson: The star was honoured for his lengthy acting and producing career

Julia has admitted now that she is a mother she is reluctant to strip off on screen, and that she found it difficult to get intimate with co-star Clive Owen in her last film Duplicity because one-year-old son Henry was on set.
She explained: 'That’s when it comes in handy [that] you know somebody well, because you can just look at each other and say: "Isn’t this incredibly uncomfortable?"'

'And then there’ll be my son Henry, on set, just looking from the corner. It’s pretty hideous actually!', she told Now Magazine.

 

Number one fan: Charlize Theron, dressed in a Lanvin lace dress, paid tribute to Hanks and said she was a 'massive fan'

And about stripping off, the svelte actress said: 'I was kind of panicking about it. You have a baby and you just want to stay home and stay in your elasticated-waist pants.'
Julia arrived alone, without husband Danny Moder. And she spoke warmly of her former co-star: 'He's the great quintessential actor.
'He does everything from the campy comedies like Bosom Buddies to Cast Away. Everyone asks what Tom is like. He's what you want him to be.'

Family ties: Hanks's son Colin with guest. He is best known for his role as priest Father Gill in US drama Mad Men

Those in attendance included directors Ron Howard, Steven Spielberg, actress Charlize Theron and singer Bruce Springsteen.
'Besides the fact that I'm a massive fan, I feel like I got interested in acting because of him and watching his work,' Charlize Theron said.
'Getting the chance to work with him and getting to know him a little bit made me realise that there's something about him that is so genuine and sweet, and just sincere.
'Makes you realise the nice guy does end up on top.'

 

Attendees director Steven Spielberg and former supermodel Christy Turlington in a Bottega Veneta gown

Box Office Analysis: Tom Hanks

Besides Sandra Bullock, the newly Oscar nominated Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close also stars Tom Hanks. Now he might not have had the best couple of years but he is still frigging Tom Hanks. The legendary actor, producer, writer, and director has been around for over 30 years, so quite a career. Since he is just as much an international star (and has been for a long time) we’re going to count his top 10 biggest box office hits worldwide, unfortunately unadjusted for inflation.
10. Catch Me if You Can (2002) $352.1 million – Directed by Steven Spielberg and also starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Abagnale Jr., a teen that successfully conned millions of dollars worth of checks. Tom Hanks plays the FBI agent assigned to catch Frank. Catch Me if You Can is great film from start to finish, never boring, definitely worth your time.
9. Apollo 13 (1995) $353.5 million – Tom Hanks plays Jim Lovell in this Ron Howard film about the true story of the troubled Apollo 13 mission. Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, Kevin Bacon and Ed Harris also star in this great movie.
8. Toy Story (1995) $362 million – The first big screen feature film of now famous animation studio Pixar, Toy Story is a wonderful movie that answers a simple question: What happens with your toys when there’s no one around? I was 8 when I first saw this in theaters and 23 when I last saw it at home. Still a great movie regardless of age. Tom Hanks voices the lovable cowboy Woody and two more equally fantastic sequels followed over the next 15 years.

7. Cast Away (2000) $429.6 million – “Wilson! Wilson!” Screams that, 11 years later, I still remember. Wilson is a Wilson Sporting Goods volleyball and Tom Hanks’ co-star in the movie Cast Away. It sounds crazy if you haven’t seen the film, I know, but Wilson really was for Tom Hank’s character, Chuck, what Friday was for Robinson Crusoe. This is obviously a castaway story and for fear of not spoiling anything else, I’ll stop here by saying that you simply must watch Cast Away.
6. Saving Private Ryan (1998) $481.8 million – A World War 2 epic set during the invasion of Normandy, it tells the story of a group of soldiers lead by Captain John H. Miller (Tom Hanks) and their search for private James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon), the last surviving of four brothers. Directed by Steven Spielberg, it’s one of the best war movies of all time, in my opinion.
5. Toy Story 2 (1999) $485 million – Often enough sequels don’t live up to expectations but that wasn’t the case with Toy Story 2, considered by some actually superior. Personally, I’m split here; it’s like having to choose between your kids. So again, Woody, Buzz and the rest of Andy’s toys return for a new adventure.

4. Angels & Demons (2009) $485.9 million – Based on the Dan Brown mystery novel with the same name, Angels & Demons is a prequel to The Da Vinci Code and a superior flick in every way. Ron Howard directs Tom Hanks again here.
3. Forrest Gump (1994) $677.4 million – A fantastic movie that won Tom Hanks his second Oscar, Forest Gump is based on the novel with the same name by Winston Groom. While not the smartest tool in the shed, Forest Gump lived quite a life, he taught a young Elvis how to dance, became part of the All-American Collage Football Team, meet John F. Kennedy, joined the army, fought in Vietnam, received the Medal of Honor, meet another president (Lyndon B. Johnson), played ping-pong for the US Army Team against China, meet yet another president (Richard Nixon) and so on. Directed by Robert Zemeckis (Cast Away), Forest Gump is a phenomenal movie that can’t be missed by anyone.
2. The Da Vinci Code (2006) $758.2 million – Now this is a movie you can miss. It’s the very definition of how to spoil a good premise with a mediocre and boring movie. Yeah sure, it’s controversial and stuff but is that enough? If so then go right ahead, The Da Vinci Code is not a bad movie but I’m certainly not one to recommend it.
1. Toy Story 3 (2010) $1,063.2 million – 11 years worth of expectations and Toy Story 3 did not disappoint one bit. The end of a trilogy and a series, at least until rumors of Toy Story 4 started circling. You know, Pixar hasn’t failed us yet, why start now, Cars 2 be damned.
Two Oscars and five Golden Globes later, there are many other noteworthy Tom Hanks movies that didn’t make this top 10 but only two of those have a special spot in my heart. One is The Green Mile, a superb film based on the Stephen King novel of the same name. The other is Sleepless in Seattle, a heart-warming film just as great now as it was 19 years ago. Now that I think about it, I really love Big also. So what’s your favorite Tom Hanks film? Comment below!

The Da Vinci Code

First off, I'd just like to say that this movie is based on a fictional story. FICTION. Why people need to express hatred over this because of their religious beliefs is so mind-boggling. No one is saying that Christianity is wrong, and that this story is right. The book is classified as FICTION, not THEOLOGY! I should also note that my extremely religious Christian friends don't find this movie at all "disturbing" or "wrong". The fact is that if you believe in something, nothing -- including a movie, or story -- should be able to deter you from that belief. If you feel threatened by this movie or any other story like this, you have serious problems regarding the foundations in which you believe.

Now, to the review... I'm not here to give you any spoilers or story info, since that's all been done in the other reviews.

I have never read the book. I went to see the movie with my boyfriend, who read the book recently, and some friends (one of whom has read the book at least twice, and is so into the story that he has researched the symbols and meanings thoroughly and participates in Da Vinci Code games, forums, etc). So we actually had at least 3 differing perspectives here.

I really loved the film. Having no story to compare it to, I didn't feel like I had to have read the book to understand the story. Nothing felt missing or incomplete. I came out of the theater ready to add this list to my favorites, and wanting to read the book to compare it to the movie.

My boyfriend also thought the film was great. He said they did a great job adapting the book to film, and although not everything was there, they did the best that they could with the time they had, and he was impressed.

My friend was so excited throughout the movie, he kept wanting to talk to us about it. He pointed out some things from the book that weren't there as well, but he understood it couldn't all be there. He also said that watching the film put a new perspective for him on the movie, since he imagined things looking and feeling different in his head. Seeing the movie allowed him to look at it differently, which made it exciting all over again.

So, in summary, this seems to be a great movie no matter how deep you are into the Da Vinci Code. I normally wait for movies to go on DVD to rent, but this is one that I'd recommend you see in the theater... the atmosphere makes it more fun and also you can talk about this with others after seeing it, instead of catching up to everyone later and possibly getting spoilers before you watch. Again, I highly recommend this movie! A+

Tom Hanks says Cloud Atlas is “going to be a beast”

  September we haven’t heard or seen much from the movie adaptation of David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas, which is being directed by The Wachowskis (The Matrix) and Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run). Halle Berry broke her foot chasing a goat during the second week of filming, which caused some shooting to be delayed, but the cast have been in Berlin for the past month and will continue shooting at various places around the world until mid-December.
While promoting the DVD and Blu-ray release of Larry Crowne Tom Hanks said Cloud Atlas is a “beast” and is going to be “wild”. He also echoed what Tom Tykwer said earlier this year that it’s essentially a “big-scale adult movie”.
From Flickering Myth:

Boy, that’s going to be a beast. It’s going to be wild. Those guys are geniuses! I admire those guys’ films because they throw deep and long. Those are uncompromising movies that are forcing the audience to go on a very deep and different track. Very adult kind of journey. Quite frankly, I want to be tested like that. Then you match it up with the material of Cloud Atlas, which is pretty spectacular. And the screenplay is off the scale! I just want to be part of something that is much, much bigger than showing up and hitting the marks. I’ve had good experiences of being the guy in a movie, and in huge pieces of commerce, like the Robert Langton movies, and it’s part burden and part challenge. It’s part ‘Let’s just get the friggin’ thing done’, as well as how as artists do we make sure this beat is about something. And that is a little bit about what the Wachowskis are going to demand from Cloud Atlas, of me, and plenty of other people. It’s a big ensemble – so it’s not a vehicle for any one of us that are in it.

Biography for Tom Hanks

Born in California, Tom Hanks grew up in what he calls a "fractured" family. His parents were pioneers in the development of marriage dissolution law in that state, and Tom moved around a lot, living with a succession of step-families. No problems, no abuse, no alcoholism - just a confused childhood. He had no acting experience in college and, in fact, credits the fact that he couldn't get cast in a college play with actually starting his career. He went downtown, auditioned for a community theater play, was invited by the director of that play to go to Cleveland, and there his acting career started. He met his second wife, actress Rita Wilson on the set of his television show "Bosom Buddies" (1980) - she appeared in one episode in the second season (1981). They have two children, and Tom has another son and daughter by his first wife. In 1996, he made his first step behind the camera, directing and writing as well as starring in the film That Thing You Do! (1996).

Cast Away

If there was ever any doubt as to the strength of Tom Hanks' appeal, it was thoroughly answered with 2000's Cast Away, a movie that asked viewers to spend over an hour watching its star wander an island with little to do and only a volleyball for companionship. He didn't just topline it, Hanks essentially was the film, absorbing a percentage of screen time that, in lesser hands, would have amounted to an endurance test for audiences. Happily, he proved up to the task, as attested by Cast Away's healthy $429 million worldwide gross -- not to mention the scores of overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics like Margaret A. McGurk of the Cincinnati Enquirer, who praised Hanks for rising to the challenges of the script: "The challenge to the character is matched by the challenge to the actor; for most of the movie Mr. Hanks is the only human being we see or hear. He tackles the job with stunning confidence in a performance stripped of gimmicks and driven by need."

Toddlers & Tiaras with Tom Hanks

Jimmy Kimmel Live - The fourth part of Jimmy's interview with Tom Hanks where he shares a clip of Toddlers & Tiaras

Tom Hanks Biography

TOM HANKS is an award-winning actor, producer and director. One of only two actors in history to win back-to-back Best Actor Academy Awards®, he won his first Oscar® in 1994 for his moving portrayal of AIDS-stricken lawyer Andrew Beckett in Jonathan Demme's "Philadelphia." The following year, he took home his second Oscar® for his unforgettable performance in the title role of Robert Zemeckis' "Forrest Gump." He also won Golden Globe Awards for both films, as well as a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award® for the latter.

Hanks has also been honored with Academy Award® nominations for his performances in Penny Marshall's "Big," Steven Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan," and Robert Zemeckis' "Cast Away," also winning Golden Globes for "Big" and "Cast Away." In 2002, Hanks received the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award.

He is currently at work starring in the epic "Cloud Atlas," being directed by the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer. His other feature film credits include the animated adventure "The Polar Express," which he also executive produced and which reunited him with director Robert Zemeckis; the Coen brothers' "The Ladykillers"; Steven Spielberg's "The Terminal" and "Catch Me If You Can"; Sam Mendes' "Road to Perdition"; Frank Darabont's "The Green Mile"; Nora Ephron's "You've Got Mail" and "Sleepless in Seattle"; Penny Marshall's "A League of Their Own"; Ron Howard's "Apollo 13," "The Da Vinci Code," "Angels & Demons" and "Splash"; and the computer-animated blockbusters "Cars," "Toy Story," "Toy Story 2" and "Toy Story 3."

Hanks' work on the big screen has translated to success on the small screen. Following "Apollo 13," he executive produced and hosted the acclaimed HBO miniseries "From the Earth to the Moon," also directing one segment, and writing several others. His work on the miniseries brought him Emmy, Golden Globe and Producers Guild Awards, as well as an Emmy nomination for Best Director.

Saving Private Ryan

To think that this movie did not win Best Picture is a crime. Director Steven Spielberg uses all of his talent and resources to give to the world the greatest war film ever made.

Though it's true that this is not the type of movie you want to sit down with the family and eat popcorn, the emotional drive of the picture, the story's poignant messages, and the fantastic acting of the cast draws you into a world that is both dangerous and unpredictable.

Spielberg is able to take you into action and make you feel as if you are a participant in the movie and not just a viewer. This is Tom Hanks' best movie he ever did. Forget his performances in Philadelphia and Forrest Gump (though they were also good); he should have received another Oscar for the role of Capt. John Miller, a leader who must act strong in front of his men, but must also hide his emotions from them. It would have been well-deserved if he won again.

I give this movie my highest recommendation. Saving Private Ryan is a movie that makes you realize how life is precious and how honor and duty, though they are deep philosophical concepts that are praised in war, can put you in jeopardy of losing your life for something you may not believe in.

Tom Hanks - From TV Star To America's Favorite Movie Star

Born in California in 1956, Tom Hanks began his acting career in community theater during college. At 24 he landed a role co-starring in the TV sitcom "Bosom Buddies". After two successful seasons on the show, he picked up a few guest roles on other television shows, including "Happy Days", where he met Ron Howard. Based upon that meeting, Howard asked Hanks to read for a supporting role in his upcoming directorial effort, "Splash" - Howard was so impressed that he cast Hanks in the lead, instead, and so a movie star's career was launched.

The success of that film saw the beginning of a string of comedies for Tom Hanks - some good, some terrible - as well as a dramatic turn here and there. His role in "Big", as a 12 year-old boy trapped in a 30 year-old man's body, fetched him his first Oscar nomination. By 1993 he had his first Academy Award win with "Philadelphia", followed by another win the following year for "Forrest Gump", making him only the second actor to ever score back-to-back Best Actor Oscars (Spencer Tracy was the first).

Between 1994 and 2004, he was nominated for and won more Oscars than any other actor during that time. In 2002, Tom Hanks became the youngest actor to ever receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from The American Film Institute.
An extremely dedicated actor,Tom Hanks gained 30 pounds for his role in "A League Of Their Own", lost 30 pounds for "Philadelphia", and gained and then lost 50 pounds for his part in "Cast Away".

Tom Hanks Movies

Tom Hanks movies once shared the record for most consecutive $100 million-grossing films with Will Smith and Tom Cruise, but in 2008 Will Smith leaped ahead to become the leader with 8 consecutive blockbusters.
Entertainment Weekly magazine dubbed Hanks the only actor in Hollywood worthy of a $20 million salary, and yet he has been quoted as saying, "I've made over 20 movies, and 5 of them are good."

Tom Hanks: Oscars needs a streaker

Tom Hanks hopes someone streaks if he presents an award at the Oscars next year.
The actor was reminiscing about the 1974 ceremony – when an unclothed man raced across the stage while the event was being televised. Tom believes a reoccurrence could boost ratings for the show – and he is eager to be involved.

"Can I be the person on stage when the streaker goes by? That's what I'd like," he said in an interview with USA Today.
Tom can next be seen in Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.
His co-star Sandra Bullock also agrees that the sight of a naked body would liven up proceedings. In fact, she has suggested that the streaking could have an Oscar theme.
“We need the streaker to come back. Once you got the streaker, it gives that element of surprise," she explained. "There should be a selection of male and female, five of each, much like the Oscars.
"But it should be like a raffle thing so it's unexpected."
Sandra and Tom are no stranger to awards shows – having both won a host of trophies during their careers.
Sandra has revealed that before making their new movie she had only met Tom twice. Once was in Las Vegas and the other encounter was outside the restrooms at the Golden Globe Awards.
"We had a whole exchange while we were waiting for people to come out. We were blocking everyone from moving through,” she laughed. "I won't even repeat what we said because it will get you in trouble."
Tom says he has met many celebrities and struck up a conversation without really knowing them.
"I describe it as being members of the Famous People's Club," he responds. "'Hey, I know you and you know me, but we never met, and we can talk about stuff like we know each other.'”

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Tom Hanks Movie List

By: Want To Know It

Tom hanks is an A-list actor who has starred in and produced some of the biggest blockbuster movies of the last 20 years. He won back to back Oscars in 1993 and 1994 and has been nominated for 3 more. The following is a list of the movies that has featured Tom Hanks as an actor or producer.
Actor

The Lost Symbol (2012)
Larry Crowne (2011)
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Angels & Demons (2009)
The Great Buck Howard (2008)
Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)
The Simpsons Movie (2007)
The Da Vinci Code (2006)
Cars (2006)
Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D (2005)
The Polar Express (2004)
Elvis Has Left the Building (2004)
The Terminal (2004)
The Ladykillers (2004)
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Road to Perdition (2002)
Cast Away (2000)
The Green Mile (1999)
Toy Story 2 (1999)
You’ve Got Mail (1998)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
That Thing You Do! (1996)
Toy Story (1995)
Apollo 13 (1995)
Forrest Gump (1994)
Vault of Horror I (1994) (TV)
Philadelphia (1993)
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
A League of Their Own (1992)
Radio Flyer (1992)
The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
Joe Versus the Volcano (1990)
Turner & Hooch (1989)
The ‘burbs (1989)
Punchline (1988)
Big (1988)
Dragnet (1987)
Every Time We Say Goodbye (1986)
Nothing in Common (1986)
The Money Pit (1986)
Volunteers (1985)
The Man with One Red Shoe (1985)
Bachelor Party (1984)
Splash (1984)
Mazes and Monsters (1982) (TV)
He Knows You’re Alone (1980)
Producer
They Marched Into Sunlight (2013)
Boone’s Lick (2012)
Larry Crowne (2011)
Beyond All Boundaries (2009)
Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
My Life in Ruins (2009)
City of Ember (2008)
Mamma Mia! (2008)
David McCullough: Painting with Words (2008) (TV)
The Great Buck Howard (2008)
Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)
Evan Almighty (2007)
Starter for 10 (2006)
The Ant Bully (2006)
Neil Young: Heart of Gold (2006)
Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D (2005)
We’re with the Band (2005) (TV)
The Polar Express (2004)
Connie and Carla (2004)
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
We Stand Alone Together (2001) (TV)
Cast Away (2000) (producer)
Do you have a favorite Tom Hanks movie or think you know a movie that isn’t on this list starring Tom Hanks – please leave a comment.

Forrest Gump

I believe everyone has a right to their opinion about films or other topics. However from a lot of the comments I have read about this film, I do not think many got the gist of the message from the author and the film maker. This film is a great modern fable, a fable in the dictionary is defined as a brief fictitious story that teaches a moral. There are many morals defined in this film but foremost is integrity and a simple goodness.

I have a half brother who grew up in the Southern U.S. and on one occasion we were discussing this film and he said he felt it portrayed Southerners as dimwitted. I disagreed with him and informed him that the author himself was a native Southerner. The setting is central to this story in that it lets the tale unfold tying in factual events with the fable before us.

The film is wonderfully directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film is his opus and is acted by a great cast on all levels. From the children who were Forrest Gump and Gump Jr. by Haley Joel Osment. Say what you want but I feel Tom Hanks deserved the Oscar award. Gary Sinise is synonymous with Lt.Dan whenever you hear those words. Sally Fields is the loving dutiful mother in her challenging situation. Mykelti Williamson as Bubba gives you a real sense in the story that Gump had a genuine friend, he moves you with his character. Words don't grasp the full performance of Robin Wright Penn as Jenny. Jennys' tenderness and pain are palpable as exhibited by Wright.

I feel that much of Gumps' appeal is his downright sense of doing the right thing regardless of the people and situations around him and we see that in this film. That being the case maybe we all wish we could be just a little more like that, trying to maintain innate goodness and not the trade-offs we often make as we go down lifes highways.

The movie has it all too,drama,comedy and it challenges societal norms as well. Then there are the almost endless quotes from the movie that have slipped into everyday speech. They are too numerous to say at this point.One of the toppers for me in the movie is when Forrest is in a quandary about life and wondering as Lt.Dan said we all have a destiny and his Mom says it is where we are all just floating around like a feather in the wind. Forrest's character terms it very well with this quote,"I think it is a little bit of both." From my experiences in life it does appear to be that way. So if you have not seen the movie,see it soon you are in for a real treat. If you did not like it, give it a try again and hopefully you will see it for the great story it is!

Early career of Tom hanks

In 1979, Hanks moved to New York City, where he made his film debut in the low-budget slasher film He Knows You're Alone (1980)^[2] and got a part in the television movie Mazes and Monsters. Early in 1979, Hanks was cast in the lead role of Callimaco in the Riverside Shakespeare Company's production of Niccolò Machiavelli's The Mandrake, directed by Daniel Southern. This remains Hanks's only New York stage performance to date; as a high profile Off Off Broadway showcase, the production helped Tom land an agent, Joe Ohla with the J. Michael Bloom Agency. The next year, Hanks landed a lead role on the ABC television pilot of Bosom Buddies, playing the role of Kip Wilson. Hanks moved to Los Angeles, where he and Peter Scolari played a pair of young advertising men forced to dress as women so they could live in an inexpensive all-female hotel.^[2] Hanks had previously partnered with Scolari in the 1970s game show Make Me Laugh. Bosom Buddies ran for two seasons, and, although the ratings were never strong, television critics gave the program high marks. "The first day I saw him on the set," co-producer Ian Praiser told Rolling Stone, "I thought, 'Too bad he won't be in television for long.' I knew he'd be a movie star in two years." But if Praiser knew it, he was not able to convince Hanks. "The television show had come out of nowhere," best friend Tom Lizzio told Rolling Stone. "Then out of nowhere it got canceled. He figured he'd be back to pulling ropes and hanging lights in a theater."
Bosom Buddies and a guest appearance on a 1982 episode of Happy Days ("A Case of Revenge," where he played a disgruntled former classmate of The Fonz) prompted director Ron Howard to contact Hanks. Howard was working on Splash (1984), a romantic comedy fantasy about a mermaid who falls in love with a human. At first, Howard considered Hanks for the role of the main character's wisecracking brother, a role that eventually went to John Candy. Instead, Hanks got the lead role and a career boost from Splash, which went on to become a box office hit, grossing more than US$69 million. He also had a sizable hit with the sex comedy Bachelor Party, also in 1984.
In 1983–84, Hanks made three guest appearances on Family Ties as Elyse Keaton's alcoholic brother, Ned Donnelly.^[9][10]

Tom Hanks Early life

 

Hanks was born in Concord, California. His father, Amos Mefford Hanks (born in Glenn County, California, on March 9, 1924 – died in Alameda, California, on January 31, 1992), an itinerant cook,^[2] was a distant relative of President Abraham Lincoln (through Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks).^[3] His mother, Janet Marylyn (née Frager; born in Alameda County, California, on January 18, 1932), was a hospital worker. Hanks' mother is of Portuguese ancestry, while two of his paternal great-grandparents immigrated from Britain.^[4][5] Hanks's parents divorced in 1960. The family's three oldest children, Sandra (now Sandra Hanks Benoiton, a writer), Larry (now Lawrence M. Hanks, PhD, an entomology professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)^[6] and Tom, went with their father, while the youngest, Jim, now an actor and film maker, remained with his mother in Red Bluff, California. Afterwards, both parents remarried. Hanks's first stepmother came to the marriage with five children of her own. Hanks once told Rolling Stone: "Everybody in my family likes each other. But there were always about 50 people at the house. I didn't exactly feel like an outsider, but I was sort of outside it." That marriage ended in divorce after two years.^{[citation needed]}

In addition to having a family history of Catholicism and Mormonism, Hanks was a "Bible-toting evangelical teenager" for several years.^[7] In school, Hanks was unpopular with students and teachers alike, later telling Rolling Stone magazine: "I was a geek, a spaz. I was horribly, painfully, terribly shy. At the same time, I was the guy who'd yell out funny captions during filmstrips. But I didn't get into trouble. I was always a real good kid and pretty responsible." In 1965, Amos Hanks married Frances Wong, a San Francisco native of Chinese descent. Frances had three children, two of whom lived with Tom during his high school years. Hanks acted in school plays, including South Pacific, while attending Skyline High School in Oakland, California.

Hanks studied theater at Chabot College in Hayward, California, and after two years, transferred to California State University, Sacramento. Hanks told The New York Times: "Acting classes looked like the best place for a guy who liked to make a lot of noise and be rather flamboyant. I spent a lot of time going to plays. I wouldn't take dates with me. I'd just drive to a theater, buy myself a ticket, sit in the seat, and read the program, and then get into the play completely. I spent a lot of time like that, seeing Bertolt Brecht, Tennessee Williams, Henrik Ibsen, and all that, and now look at me, acting is my job. I wouldn't have it any other way."

During his years studying theater, Hanks met Vincent Dowling, head of the Great Lakes Theater Festival in Cleveland, Ohio.^[2] At Dowling's suggestion, Hanks became an intern at the Festival. His internship stretched into a three-year experience that covered most aspects of theater production, including lighting, set design, and stage management, all of which caused Hanks to drop out of college. During the same time, Hanks won the Cleveland Critics Circle Award for Best Actor for his 1978 performance as Proteus in Shakespeare's The Two Gentlemen of Verona, one of the few times he played a villain.^[8]