JoJo's post about Jim Carrey got me thinking about Mr. Hanks. I think most people would agree he has become the Spencer Tracy or Henry Fonda of our time. His movies trace back to the early eighties and his roles have been diverse and plenty.

What role or film has been your favorite?

What would you like to see more of...his comedic work or his dramatic?

What do you think is his worst role or performance?

What actress would you like to see him teamed with..or does he even need a female counterpart at all?

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I think my favorite Tom Hanks movie was Big. However, it's a close race between that and Saving Private Ryan. I prefer him in a dramatic role, but he makes a pretty good straight man as well.

I believe he will be one of this era of Hollywood's few truly memorable actors.

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In reference to the current state of my health: NyQuil...The sniffling, sneezing, aching, coughing, stuffy head, fever, how the heck did I wake up on the kitchen floor medicine. Louie Anderson

"You've Got Mail" Loved him in this! And, that's saying a lot from a movie that's been redone from the original version. I typically don't like the fact that Hollywood has few original ideas these days - all they seem to do is remake the old classics. But, this one made it. Very well done. He was superb.

"Sleepless In Seattle" was another wonderful one.

I guess I'd say that I love his tender, sweet movies the best.

He's come a long, long way from his Buffy and Hildy days!

I liked him best in Forrest Gump. Joe vs. The Volcano was the worst.

How in the world could I forget Forrest? Loved him in that, too.

Ok, I guess I'm just going to have to say that I really love Tom Hanks - regardless of what the man is in!

I still laugh each time I watch "The Money Pit" and I loved "Big" as far as his comedy roles go. I just saw "Saving Private Ryan" last week on video and thoroughly enjoyed it. I would like to see Tom Hanks continue with the serious roles but I would also like to see him do more roles in comedy.

I find Tom Hanks to be such a pleasant, "nice" kind of actor to watch--there is something very likeable about him. Maybe if he ever plays a really miserable, nasty character I'll change my mind about that.

I think he's wonderful in romantic comedies like, "You've Got Mail" and "Sleepless In Seattle". And he was perfect in "Big". And he was very, very good in "Nothing In Common".

But, my favorite Tom Hanks role was in "Philadelphia"--I thought he was just great in that one.

I am in total agreement with CB on Philadelphia. I think Philadelphia, Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, and The Green Mile are his best works to date. Each role shows him in a different light and doing great work. Castaway is a 2nd runner up for me from these four. Apollo 13 is an exceptionally good movie...but Hanks himself wasn't all that memorable in his role.

Oh yeah and Punchline too. He was very good in that...in a bit of a darker role.

I have to disagree about Joe VS. The Volcano. I actually really, really like that movie! Its quirky and silly but I really enjoy it.

I'd also vote for Splash, Big, and Volunteers. I like all those for his comedic work.

I didn't care much for Sleepless or You've got Mail...I don't know why...they just didn't do it for me.

I would like to see him continue his dramatic work. I find him so enjoyable. I'd also like to see him in a really good romantic movie that isn't completely a comedy. Something with a bit more depth and edge. I'd like to see him paired up with Bonnie Hunt again...they were husband and wife in Green Mile and I found them to have great chemistry. They seemed like a perfect match...and Bonnie is just as likeable as he is in real life.

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i too, really enjoy tom hanks. he just seems like such a sweet, likable, down to earth guy. even though he's a jillionaire, he looks like they type of guy who could live next door to you.
i really liked him in "big." also, "a league of their own." he gave a very funny performance in that film. and, although the movies weren't outstanding, i enjoyed tom in "the 'burbs" and "turner and hooch." the dog was the star in that one, but tom held his own.
of course "forrest gump" was great-one of my favorites. a well deserved oscar.
there are a couple of groaners, though, that he's made: "bachelor party" and "the man with one red shoe." granted, these were both early in his career, so i guess he can be excused for those. lol.
tom hanks really is a fine actor and he will be around for a long time.

hungree wrote: I didn't care much for Sleepless or You've got Mail...I don't know why...they just didn't do it for me.

I feel the same way!! I think I have an overall dislike for most light "romantic comedies" which are just simple love stories, basically. They bore me greatly. It's not that I don't like love stories; I just think that there should be more of a story to a movie, I guess.

And I also liked Joe vs. the Volcano! It was silly but not overly so.

mmmmm, this one takes a lot of thought because I think he was great in every movie I saw.

My first inclination was to go with The Green Mile, in which he was excellent, but after seeing Castaway, that movie gets my vote for the best Tom Hanks movie

Wow, Hungree! You don't ask much , do you? LOL!

Ok. I have a personal place in my heart for Nothing in Common. So that's my personal Favorite. I also liked him in A League of Their Own ("There's No Crying in Baseball" & "Sure it's hard. If it was easy everyone would do it. It's "the hard" that makes it great!").
I tend to like his movies that allow him to show his since of humor, But I'm also drawn to the films that he shows us that quiet nobility. Hey, even his Cameo roles are impressive. (Radio Flyers & That Thing You Do)
My vote for worst Hanks project is Bacholor Party.
What women would I like to see hime work with? Ellen Barkin; Barbara Hershey; Tia Leone; Glenn Close; Gina Davis (again); Rita Wilson (Again); Annette Bening; Mary McDonald; Sela Ward (Again); Francis McDormand; Pamela Reed; Jessica Lange; Meryl Streep; Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio;Framke Jansen...
(That'll keep him working for a couple of years.)

Tom Hanks is one of the best actors ever to claim fame in Hollywood. He ranks up there with the best of them. The reason... he's versatile. If you think about it, that's an absolute for popularity. I'm talking about substance here folks, not brawn, bodies or beauty. I enjoy roles where we're allowed to glimpse a touch of his sense of humor and personality. Some of my favorites are League of Their Own, The Burbs, Nothing In Common, Apollo 13 and Castaway. Bosom Buddies was the catalyst. What a ride it's been.

Tom Hanks' appeal is based on his uncanny ability to become 'every man' in each of his roles. Just as the camera 'loved' Marilyn Monroe, it also 'loves' Hanks, but for different reasons. Monroe's beauty was captured effortlessly on film....Hanks' 'inner beauty' comes across loud and clear on film. If he's not 'every man', he's the man you'd like to be. He has a simple, unaffected, extraordinary 'like-ability', gentleness and vulnerability that is enormously appealing. You get the impression that he's not playing a role; he seems to be playing himself trying to deal with a particular situation.

My favorite Hanks roles are his light comedies..."Turner and Hooch" is a particular favorite. His grief over the death of his dog is so heart-breaking, I can't help but shed a few tears as well.

Hanks doesn't need the 'method' approach to his craft, or the Stanivslosky method...he just is...which maakes his accomplishments all the more impressive.

Nicely put Vendome. I couldn't agree more. I was wondering how men view Hanks. Your description was not unexpected. I believe this is the way women feel about Meg Ryan. We love her. She's cute, sassy, pert, intelligent without intimidation. Women want to be Meg (generally speaking, as always). She's a natural on the screen. It's easy to forget that she is playing a role.
I enjoyed Turner and Hooch also. The developing relationship between the man and the dog was amusing and then poignant. The man has got to be an animal lover, no?