Tom Hanks on movies: ‘you want to see something you’ve never seen before’

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Tom Hanks is promoting his Clint Eastwood directed film, Sully, about Capt. Chesley Sullenberger who successfully landed his plane on the Hudson River. It opens this Friday and looks good. The part seems to call for all the conflict, gravitas and depth that Hanks can bring to these roles.

While being interviewed about Sully at the Telluride Film Festival, Eastwood spoke to wanting to do more original content after which Hanks interrupted his own interview to proclaim the brilliance of Damien Chazelle’s new film La La Land, which had been shown the day before. Hank’s remarks were part trumpeting the film’s brilliance and imploring support for original content.

“I like to think we approach movies the same way we approach being members of the audience in that you just want to see something you have never seen before. It’s funny. Who saw La La Land yesterday?” Hanks said as members of the audience clapped in response. “When you see something that is brand new, that you can’t imagine, and you think, ‘Well, thank God this landed,’ because I think a movie like La La Land would be anathema to studios. Number one, it is a musical and no one knows the songs.”

Hanks then made a quip about Warner Bros., the studio distributing Sully, likely being thrilled that he interrupted an event for the film to praise another studio’s movie before elaborating on his initial sentiment.

“This is not a movie that falls into some sort of trend. I think it is going to be a test of the broader national audience, because it has none of the things that major studios want,” he said. “Pre-awareness is a big thing they want, which is why a lot of remakes are going on. [La La Land] is not a sequel, nobody knows who the characters are…But if the audience doesn’t go and embrace something as wonderful as this then we are all doomed.”


[From Entertainment Weekly]

Only Tom Hanks could get away with pausing a Warner Bros. press interview to promote a Lionsgate film. Technically Hanks was just citing an example of what Eastwood had discussed but most outlets are running with the narrative that he encapsulated our frustration for unique content. However, Sully is original in that this story has not been made into a film before (the film is adapted from Sullenberger’s autobiography, Sully: My Search for What Really Matters). And yet Hanks didn’t cite it for it’s originality because let’s face it, a conflicted-hero story is not exactly foreign in Hollywood. I think Hanks was hyped about a very different type of film but I also think he was reminding the movie-goers to put their money where their mouths are. Most indy films make their way to my neck of the woods. I don’t go see half the ones I should but I complain about the “same old thing” all the time.

However much we claim to dislike remakes we do love reunions. Such was almost the case yesterday on Good Morning America when both Tom and Meg Ryan were promoting their films (she is promoting Ithaca, in which Hanks has a cameo). Alas, they were not in the same place at the same time – Tom saw Meg outside the window and yelled “I love you sweetie! I’ll find you. I’ll wait for you. I’ll meet you in the park.” He also pointed out the Bubba Gump Shrimp company restaurant in the background and said that in 1977 it was a bank where he had to cash a $47 check. “I wish I could have said ‘Hey, this is going to be a restaurant based on my movie.’” Tom then invited everyone for free appetizers.

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Photo credit: Fame/Flynet and WENN Photos and Getty Images

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19 Responses to “Tom Hanks on movies: ‘you want to see something you’ve never seen before’”

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  1. Lenn says:

    How can they have Meg Ryan on AFTER Tom Hanks and not but them in the studio together???

  2. Kirsten says:

    I adore Tom Hanks.

    • MD says:

      One of the actors who always gives an enjoyable interview because he’s kind, funny and connected with reality. No ego drama whatsoever. Cannot wait to see Toy Story 4.

  3. D says:

    The only time I’ve gone to see a movie and thought “I’ve never seen anything like this before” was with the first Matrix movie.

    • iralagi says:

      agree with you. and it was almost 20 years. I do think movies is dead. all the good writings are on TV. there was a time when I no longer go to the cinema in years.

    • Mia4S says:

      Mad Max Fury Road for me. The visuals, plus the feminist nature of the story absolutely floored me!!

    • KHLBHL says:

      Except for the fact that *The Matrix* is a complete rip-off of a ton of Japanese anime and manga and Hong Kong cinema….

      The Wachowskis literally played *Ghost in the Shell* for the studio execs and said, “This is what we want to do.”

  4. Tate says:

    I can’t support any project with Eastwood attached to it.

  5. Nicole says:

    I love Tom Hanks. National treasure for sure

  6. lvw2 says:

    he’s the cool dad. love him.

  7. alice says:

    yeah, great to praise original movies like Lalaland while happily keep collecting paychecks for crap like Inferno. We all love Tom, but hypocrisy can hit anyone

    • notasugarhere says:

      He tried his own experimental things (experimental for him anyway), The Polar Express & Cloud Atlas. Polar Express was attacked by many who thought the animation style would scare children. Cloud Atlas was considered the worst flop of the year, referred to as six bad films in one.

      15-20 years ago he had the pull to get anything made. He chose mainstream. I think his power and draw are decreasing and he missed his chance to do more interesting things.

      • holly hobby says:

        My kids and I love Polar Express. It may not have done well in the theater but I think it found a life on dvd and during the holidays!

        Cloud Atlas was weird. I just couldn’t understand it.

  8. Aussieboy says:

    Agree Tom….why and who are watching these infantile schlockbuster comic book movies??? I’m a grown up (at least I pretend I am) and the proliferation of these garbage DC and Marvel movies (that interestingly are starting to increasingly garner poor reviews), drive me nuts! Give my adult a** some grown up type shiz plz!

  9. Chaine says:

    Poor Meg, she looks like it hurts to move her jaw! Robin Roberts, gorgeous, the dress, the shoes, the makeup, love her.

  10. holly hobby says:

    Love Tom Hanks! Loved how he yelled at Meg Ryan to meet in the park and his Bubba Gump story. How cute is that?

  11. Alldamnday says:

    It’s just kind of weird coming from a guy who has played the same character for the last ten years. Embattled boat captain, wartime investigator, plane captain. I’m ready to watch him act again. Perhaps an aging drag queen, being kicked out of a former ladies hotel turned condo in New York?

    • fabulousfunster says:

      Know what you mean – mix it up guys. For example, I loved Michael Douglas as Liberace, something so out of character that you are reminded just how brilliant they are.