Tom Hanksis a multi-talented actor, and his roles cover a variety of terrain. From animated films to biopics to historical dramas, there is little that the seasoned actor hasn’t tackled. Hanks may be one of the most beloved and praised actors alive today, but that doesn’t mean that all of his movies have received the same admiration.
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Some of his projects that were lambasted by critics should have been received more kindly. Others received popular and critical praise but not as much as the quality of the films warranted. Some critics have found fault with Hanks’s performances, while others have only criticized the movies themselves. Here are some ofTom Hanks’s most underrated films.
8Joe Versus The Volcano
Joe Versus the Volcanodidn’t fair well when it premiered, being torn apart by viewers and critics alike when it debuted in 1990. Hanks plays Joe, who learns that he is dying of a rare disease and does the only logical thing a person can in that situation: accept an offer to travel to an island in the South Pacific andthrow himself into a volcano on behalf of superstitious natives.
Meg Ryan stars as Hanks’s love interest,and while “romantic comedy” might not seem like a natural phrase to pair with “man throws self into volcano,“Joe Versus the Volcanosomehow makes it work, at times coasting on sheer audacity and the charisma of its leads.
Hot on the heels of critical darlingAmerican Beauty,director Sam Mendes took on the neo-noir crime dramaRoad to Perdition,adapted from the comic book of the same name. Tom Hanks plays Michael Sullivan, a hitman for the Chicago mob who ends up doing everything in his power to protect his son.
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The film strikes an interesting balance between themes, and whileHanks plays against type,he manages to pull off the role of a violent gangster as well as he pulls off anything else in his career. The film may not have garnered as much attention as other projects in the actor’s filmography, but Tom Hanks’s role is worth remembering.
6The ‘Burbs
What do Tom Hanks and Joe Dante (director ofGremlins) have in common?The ‘Burbs.A film that seized on Dante’s off-beat directorial vision as much as Hanks’s undeniable energy and acting chops,The ‘Burbsis about a man who starts to believe his neighbors are murderers.
Things become wilder by the second as Ray and his friends attempt to convince the rest of the neighborhood that they’re right about the lethal intentions of their neighbors.The ‘Burbsis a weird fusion of plots and styles, in many waysemblematic of its period,and it doesn’t always work, but when it does, it’s superb. This dark comedy deserves more than the mixed reviews it initially received.
5Cloud Atlas
The name David Mitchell carries great weight in literary circles, as the novelist has a reputation for putting out works of tremendous complexity and depth.Cloud Atlaswas one such novel, and the film of the same name has a lot to get its hands around, telling a sprawling story across a variety of times and settings in an interconnected chain of human embodiment.
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Despite being directed by the Wachowskis and having an all-star cast,Cloud Atlasquickly faded from attention. That’s especially unfortunate for Hanks, given thathe performs not one but six roles throughout the film.He should receive more praise for even attempting the feat, and the fact that he actually did each role justice is all the more impressive.
4The Terminal
Tom Hanks has worked withplenty of great directors,and when most viewers think of the actor’s collaborations with Steven Spielberg,Saving Private Ryanis probably the film that comes to mind. Another,The Terminal,should be spoken of in the same breath. He plays Viktor, the victim of a mist-timed coup in his home nation, now adrift with no land to call his own.
To make matters worse, Viktor is nowstuck in the terminal of New York’s John F. Kennedy airport,denied entry to the U.S. but unable to return to his country of origin either.The Terminalis a comedy of sorts, albeit a strange one, and Hanks has Catherine Zeta-Jones and Stanley Tucci to bolster him.
3A League Of Their Own
A League of Their Ownholds a special place in the hearts of many fans, but Hanks’s performance doesn’t get as much recognition as it deserves. To be sure, given that the film is about the ongoing battle against misogyny and inequality in sports, it’s right that Geena Davis, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell, and the other women who star in the film take center stage.
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Hanks delivers a memorable performance as alcoholic baseball coach Jimmy Dugan,and he doesn’t miss a beat despite walking a fine dramatic line in many scenes. The film remains as strong, quotable, and enjoyable now as it ever was, and Tom Hanks has plenty to do with that.
2Toy Story 2
Can anyone callToy Story 2underrated given its smashing performance at the box office? The answer is yes, and here’s why.Toy Story 2isn’t just a great animated film, it’s an animated film that’s better than the original in many ways yet receives a fraction of the praise and attention. It also tends to be overshadowed by the third entry in the series. In many ways,Toy Story 2ranksamong the actor’s best.
Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Hamm, Mr. Potato Head, and Jessie are unforgettable characters, regardless of the age of the audience, andToy Story 2gave Disney the almost impossible challenge of living up to the expectations of a legion of fans.Somehow, the film succeeded, and Tom Hanks is a significant reason why.
1The Post
Journalism doesn’t always lend itself well to film, as it’s often hard to depict processes like writing, editing, and researching in dramatic and compelling ways.The Post,a Spielberg flick based on the true story of journalists at The Washington Post who attempted to publish thePentagon Papers,is a movie unlike any other in Hanks’s filmography.
Acting opposite Meryl Streep, Hanks brings layer after layer of nuance, gravitas, and honesty to his role,elevating his co-stars while also creating a performance that can stand on its own.The Postis an exceptional testament to journalists and free speech advocates, and every member of its cast does justice to their real-world counterparts.
