The Year of Hanks

"We are the members of the All-American League, We come from cities near and far. We've got Canadians, Irish ones and Swedes, We're all for one, we're one for all, we're all American." First off, it's hardly relevant, but the fact that Madonna gets top billing in this film just irks me. Hers is a major character, yes, but not a lead. In a perfect world, Lori Petty's card would have occupied Madge's place on the cover. At the time, however, Petty was a relative unknown, a Hollywood greenhorn who was less a "Who's Who" and more of a "Who?" Madonna, on the other hand, was established pop royalty, a polarizing figure wreathed in scandal and intrigue with enough (figurative) badges to put an Eagle Scout to shame. She was the former wife of Hollywood Heavyweight Sean Penn and had made her own cinematic splash in the title role of 1985 cult hit Desperately Seeking Susan . She was an unapologetic sexpot during a time when the emb...

As a preamble, I'd like to apologize for the time it's taken me between the viewing of this film and my publishing the corresponding post, but as you'll soon learn, this film was heavy enough to anchor a boat, and it took me a lot of time, research, and reflection to discuss it the way it deserved. "You can't just say, 'I promise,' then forget about it. 'I promise' are the most important words you'll ever say." I'd never before seen this movie, and given the fact that Hanx was uncredited in this role, I honestly didn't expect to see much of him. A brief cameo, maybe. At first I considered this film a technicality - if I were doing a "Year of Bowie" this would have been Zoolander. A "Year of Damon?" Thor: Ragnarok. A "Year of Lowe?" Tommy Boy. A "Year of Stan Lee?" Pick a Marvel movie. Nothing to really showcase an established actor's chops. A favor he did for a friend on a w...

I began this project just over three years ago. My intent was, as most of you know, to complete a viewing of all Tom Hanks' films in a year. I made a respectable showing at first, but then things happened. I had a miscarriage. I got pregnant with my second child. My first was potty training. I got a new job. I moved. I was laid off. My son turned two, and for those of you who have a two-year-old, I don't think that needs any further explanation. The world was blindsided with a pandemic, which both Hanx and his wife, Rita Wilson, were affected by. Protests arose over civil rights issues. In short, my world, and the greater world, was in chaos. I lost sight of my goal, and much like a beloved volleyball in Cast Away, drifted off beyond my reach. Times are tough for everyone these days. There's no arguing that. And for quite some time now, I've been thinking about resurrecting this project. I've said for about half a decade that I wanted to learn Latin. Finally, t...