This has been bugging me since I sat down and watched That Thing You Do (for the sixth time this month); I am not a fan of Hollywood favorite Tom Hanks. The market has been saturated with him in the last decades (1980 – current) but not as badly as it was in the 90’s. Every time you turned around there was another film staring Tom Hanks. The man won back to back Best Actor Oscars in the 90s (Philadelphia and Forrest Gump) and was nominated for a third (Apollo 13 I think). Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that he didn’t deserve them. He is a good actor. There was just too much of him.

That said, I love the man as a supporting actor. When he’s doing voices with Tim Allen in Toy Story and working as the manager for The Wonders in That Thing You Do. When he’s not the central focus of the film, I think he’s a better actor. And in speaking of That Thing You Do he’s a stellar director.

The man has some glorious credits to his name. Splash, The Da Vinci Code, The Green Mile. And for every Hanks film I like there’s about three more I think are just plain on TV or advertised far too much before they’re even released. Case in point, I have not seen Cast Away. You will probably never see a review of it here. I’ve tried to watch it multiple times, but have been told you have to be a true Hanks fan to enjoy the film. I’m simply not that person.

I have a great deal of respect for the man. It takes a lot to keep his private life private and still maintain the ranking of Hollywood Royalty. And he keeps busy. He’s got 2 films slated for 2007 and a possible 4 more for 2008 (according to IMDB). Hanks works hard and deserves the credit he gets.

I just like him more when he’s not in every scene. I adored the man when he played Kip/Buffy in Bosom Buddies, and that’s something I’ll try and catch if I see it in syndication. I admit I’m looking forward to seeing Angels and Demons (it has got to be better than the book!) and hope he actually does reprise the role of Robert Langdon (listed as “in talks” on IMDB). I think Hanks is at his best when he’s working with Ron Howard.

I consider his films Guilty Pleasures because I am not a fan. I have to admit, however, he will go to great lengths to get into a role and he’s one of the better actors in Hollywood today.