Part One - Tom Hanks

Part I - Tom Hanks

Tom established his credibility as more than just a funny guy when he took the role of Andrew Beckett, a lawyer who loses his job because he has AIDS in 1993's Philadelphia. Subsequent roles over the next 5 years as Forest Gump, Jim Lovell and Captain Miller earned him 2 Best Actor Oscars and the utmost respect of the acting community, propelling him to the top of the A-list of modern day thespians. Since 1998, he has participated in a wide array of roles, from voicing Pixar characters, to taking the lead in a Coen brothers comedy, to playing the interestingly coifed Dr. Langdon in Dan Brown's two mega hits - Davinci Code and Angels and Demons.

It is clear that Hanks has reached the point in his career where he is choosing roles not out of necessity or desire for recognition, but out of curiosity and fascination of how far he can push himself to become the chameleon necessary to be just believable enough to convince the audience that he actually is the foreigner indefinitely stuck at an airport, or Texas congressman Charlie Wilson. He is choosing roles for fun now. He has also teamed with his favorite directors; Ron Howard and Steven Spielberg in producing HBO mini-series' that go deeper into some of his favorite historical events - WWII and space exploration.

Although his executive producer resume is impressive as well, that is not why he is on this list. Here are the 5 most significant roles in his illustrious career:

Philadelphia (1993)

Andrew Beckett gave us 3 unique things in this film: The arrival of Tom Hanks in the upper echelon of acting, a glimpse at Denzel Washington's range which had been mostly limited to exceptional performances in period dramas, and a raised sense of awareness about AIDS. It marked the step from boy to man for him, from comedies such as Big and Bachelor Party to subject matter to be taken seriously, and this film really marked that transformation with an exclamation point. Had Hanks not chosen this film, and subsequently won a Best Actor Oscar, I doubt that he would have been given as much critical acclaim in his follow-up film - Forest Gump. He almost certainly would not have won his second Oscar in as many years.

Forrest Gump (1994)

Iconic and endearing, Forrest Gump was a hybrid film of epic proportions. Never before had a drama with subtle comedic undertones taken the silver screen so forcefully. It became the hit of the year, virtually sweeping the major awards as well. The film however, would not have been the same had it not been for Hanks' tender, naive and ultimately beloved portrayal of the simple Forrest Gump. His status at this point was bolstered by being the reigning Best Actor Oscar winner, but there was something magical about the film and the performance that touched nearly everyone who saw it.

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

The great thing about Tom's role in this film is that it was subtle and smooth. His performance blended in with the rest of the cast as they all let the story and the magic of Spielberg's camera deliver the essence of Normandy in one of the all-time great war films. This would be the one role where Hanks should have won awards, but didn't. This film also marked the end of an era and the beginning of another for Hanks. Every actor hits a point where they are no longer the young leading man, but rather the middle age man. Older, wiser, more vulnerable in a sense. A side of Hanks was uncovered in this film that he hadn't shown before. From this point he began taking a turn in his career and explored more eccentric roles. However, the star power that he possesses contributed to making Saving Private Ryan truly great, and there isn't another actor around who could have done what he did with the role of Captain John Miller.

Castaway (2000)

I had a hard time choosing between Apollo 13 and Castaway - my 5th and final addition to this particular list. I chose Castaway however due mostly to the physical transformation that Hanks underwent during the filming, going from a fat and happy FedEx executive to an emaciated and haggard man stranded on a deserted island. With the exception of the beginning and end, Hanks was the only actor in this movie, and it was brilliant. From conversing with inanimate objects to the despair and loneliness of his plight, he brought an emotional intensity that is truly rare and frankly, risky.

Road to Perdition (2002)

Perhaps my favorite of all of Hanks' roles, this underrated period drama by Sam Mendes displays the corruption and danger associated with organized crime in 1920's Chicago. Hanks plays Paul Newman's enforcer. The trusted quiet man who does the dirty work, and does it well. What we see from Hanks is something he had not played before - a man who has lost his moral compass despite truly caring for his friends and family. He is a yes man, and although an assassin and a killer, he still has that quality that makes you root for him, be it a pained look in his eyes, or the glint of a smile during conversation with his son. The film is full of quirky characters and brilliant cinematography, but it is Hanks as the tormented father who brings depth and real character to the role.

Between 1989 and 2001, Hanks has garnered 5 Oscar nominations including 2 wins. Between 1989 and 2008 he has been nominated for 7 Golden Globes, including 4 wins.