MovieChat Forums > Cast Away (2000) Discussion > Anyone else really envy Hanks’ character...

Anyone else really envy Hanks’ character?

posted 2 years ago by Silverman (270)
12 replies | jump to latest

I’d imagine going through a situation like hanks did would be
like ascending . In a sense, he already died. He already experienced every possible thing that an anxious mind could fathom. His previous life, and all of the expectations that would have gone with it, is through. All aspirations of status or fixations on money, excessive comfort, would all be rendered incredibly meaningless and petty. Anything that may happen to him from here on out, whether good or bad, is just a bonus. He is totally free to live in the moment and mindfully enjoy simplicity. He’s cashed out of that rat race the rest of the world is stuck in and he is in total control of the meaning he can assign to anything.

This is gonna seem dark, but it’s like he got all of the “benefits” of suicide without the pesky “dying ” part

[–] LoveCatsHateDogs (1942) 2 years ago

So uh, did you kill yourself yet?

[–] howgamer (3931) 2 years ago

Benefits of suicide? This doesn't really make any sense. He got the benefits of a near death experience by going through an enormous and long amount of physical and emotional pain. I agree with your first paragraph though.

[–] Silverman (270) a year ago

Call it “rebirth” then

[–] KLPE (525) a year ago

[deleted]

[–] AnthonySocksss (490) 6 days ago

There was an IMDb post a while back about “shedding the ego,” basically Chuck Nolan experienced an ego-death on the island after losing everything important to him, and surrendering himself to fate, realizing he has no control over his destiny. Essentially he found enlightenment at the end of the film and realized he can go anywhere, do anything…. Also the massive insurance payout from FedEx no doubt helped.

[–] moviebuff00 (819) 6 days ago

what insurance though? he didnt die. the plane crash wasnt fedex's fault. maybe he'll get something but i cant imagine it would be massive. nobody was at fault.

[–] AnthonySocksss (490) 6 days ago

It was a FedEx plane that flew into a giant storm and crashed killing the crew, and stranding Chuck on an island for years, while he was attempting to do his job. There would definitely be some massive liability involved, and lawyers would be jumping to represent his legal claims, especially since he was a company executive. He would no doubt have recourse for some kind of settlement/lost wages/disability payout from FedEx or their insurance carrier. He was also legally declared dead so probably some life insurance payout too. Chuck Noland would be taken care of.

[–] moviebuff00 (819) 3 days ago

would you actually get a life insurance payout if you didnt actually die though?

[–] AnthonySocksss (490) 3 days ago

Good question. He was legally declared dead so I guess the payout went to his beneficiary while he was on the island.

[–] moviebuff00 (819) 6 days ago

no, as someone who lost his soulmate, the scene where he comes back to her absolutely kills me. i don't think he's ever gonna find great happiness again.

[–] liscarkat (18410) 6 days ago

That's what I thought when my fiance screwed some other guy, then dumped me. I was never going to find love or happiness again! But it turned out to be BS. I met a far better woman, the true love of my life, who has stuck with me through everything for over forty years. I'm grateful to my ex-fiance, the false "love of my life", for forcing me to dodge that bullet (her).

[–] moviebuff00 (819) 3 days ago

ok but the woman you were with wasnt your soulmate. i'm not talking about losing a gf. helen hunt's character desperately searched for him and was ready to abandon her life for him. he was just too honorable to make her do it.