MovieChat Forums > Cast Away (2000) Discussion > Wilson...

Wilson...

posted 6 months ago by [deleted]
12 replies | jump to latest

Do you think Chuck (Hanks) maintained a sense of guilt for losing Wilson for a time following his rescue, or did he quickly rationalise it down to circumstance and isolation?

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[–] MoviesStillSuck (518) 6 months ago

That is an excellent question, and one I shall spend the rest of my day pondering.

[–] strntz (12223) 6 months ago

I'm dying to know your thoughts!

[–] MoviesStillSuck (518) 6 months ago

I think Chuck quickly rationalized it once he started to date the hot redhead from the end of the film, but there were definitely nights where he had nightmares of being alone on the ocean while watching Wilson float slowly away. How about your thoughts?

[–] strntz (12223) 6 months ago

Yeah, pretty much those actual thoughts.

I think in the only reality he knew - total human isolation - Wilson was the closest thing Chuck had to a companion. Once he returned to humanity, he realized how strange his "relationship" with Wilson was, but I also agree with you that that bond is never completely broken.

Off topic - I wish Hanks hadn't chosen to make Chuck so "off" after being back in civilization for a while. I get the acting choice that Chuck was irrevocably changed for the experience and his personality wouldn't be the same as before, but he just didn't seem to have his old charm - the type of charm a hot, charmismatic redhead who could have just about any single man she wanted (and a few married if she was so inclined) would be attracted to.

Thanks for the reply!

[–] davebuffalo (3442) 6 months ago

I think once he re-entered the "real world ", i.e. climbed aboard that ship, his friendship with an inanimate object was no longer relevant.

[–] overseas7 (4231) 6 months ago

I think so, maybe he remembered Wilson from time to time....Anyway, I think we still have a Wilson somewhere at home .

[–] moviebuff00 (797) 2 days ago

i forgot how but i get the sense he realized he was crazy for acting that way.

[–] AmeriGirl26 (14379) 6 months ago

What cracks me up is that the concept of Wilson, where an isolated person turned an object into a friend to hang out with to maintain their sanity, has had a longer staying power in pop culture than the rest of this movie did.

I've played two different computer games made in the past 4 years that made references to Wilson, whether subtle or very obvious.

[–] MoviesStillSuck (518) 6 months ago

I think everyone was surprised back in 2000 of just how attached they became to an inanimate object. Because make no mistake, it’s not just Chuck who feels terrible when Wilson floats away. I remember people in the audience openly crying during that scene. I felt awful myself. Knowing that Wilson is floating alone into unknown territory just makes the viewer feel so empty.

[–] AmeriGirl26 (14379) 6 months ago

Really? I didn't feel like crying, but I felt sad for Chuck, losing the only "friend" he'd had for the past 2 years.

[–] moviebuff00 (797) 2 days ago

2? he was on the island for 5...

[–] corey (768) 6 months ago

No, after all Wilson eventually showed up on Home Improvement.