Posted on 11/17/2016 9:27:48 AM PST by AU72
In what is certainly sure to draw ire from some, if not many, in the Hollywood community, two-time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks opted for grace and class when speaking about President-elect Donald Trump. After a week of hysteria-laden open letters and Twitter rants from entertainment industry liberals like Aaron Sorkin and Joss Whedon, Hanks' calm demeanor and response really stood out. The actor was being honored at the Museum of Modern Art in New York when he offered a refreshing dose of perspective.
We are going to be all right because we constantly get to tell the world who we are. We constantly get to define ourselves as American. We do have the greatest country in the world. We move at a slow pace. We have the greatest country in the world because we are always moving towards a more perfect union. That journey never ceases, it never stops. Sometimes, to quote a Springsteen song, it’s “one step forward, two steps back,” but we still aggregately move forward. We, who are a week into wondering what the hell just happened, will continue to move forward. We have to choose to do so, but we will move forward because if we do not move forward, what is to be said of us?
Let Us Aid those Celebrities Who Said They'd Leave the U.S. if Trump Won
Then Hanks said something that would probably be career suicide for a less established actor:
"This is the United States of America. We'll go on. There's great like-minded people out there who are Americans first and Republicans or Democrats second," Hanks told THR. "I hope the president-elect does such a great job that I vote for his re-election in four years."
While it is sad that kind, patriotic words like this stand out so much because vitriol is the norm, it's also comforting to know that not everyone has lost his or her mind. Many of Hanks' contemporaries truly believe that America is now in the midst of a possibly apocalyptic existential crisis. That's largely based on a reality that's prone to hysteria because it doesn't get much exposure to people who think differently.
Hanks' real world is a bit more...real. He lives in the same place and works in the same industry as Sorkin and the others, but has somehow managed to notice the America beyond the Hollywood bubble. He is also one of the most accomplished and respected actors of his generation. Maybe, just maybe, others will pause and take his words to heart.
Maybe.
God bless Tom Hanks!
It made 123 million. Not bad for that type of movie.
“Kudos to Hanks for speaking out.”
Sounds like Hanks wants the option to PLAY Trump in the near future.
“Apparently I am not the only one that never watched it.”
Yes, it’s certainly not one of his most well known films. However, nobody who has seen it could honestly say that DeNiro can only play one kind of character.
“Start with Saving Private Ryan.”
Certainly not Forrest Gump.
After seeing and reading the news, and meeting Captain Sullenberger and hearing his story firsthand, I never had the desire to watch the movie.
In my opinion, Tom Hanks has been overrated since Big.
FWIW, I thought SPR was great until our guys left the beach. Best Hollywood D-Day footage I’ve seen, but the rest of the movie was just OK.
Castaway was just ok. Wilson was the real star.
Meh- just about all actors will attempt a diversion from roles they are known for on occasion to avoid being type-cast. Does not seem to have worked for DeNiro, or he would be playing a wider range.
I thought “Sully” was produced and directed by Clint Eastwood?
I think Hanks has a better appreciation of those in fly-over country than most of his hollywood elite peers due to the movies he’s been involved in, most notably Saving Private Ryan.....
“If you haven’t seen it, watch “Forrest Gump”. Brilliant acting all around. Great story. Even more so if you lived thru the 60’s.”
I personally liked Flowers for Algernon (book and movie) better than Forrest Gump, and I didn’t like FFA very much.
OTOH, I liked Forrest Gump more than Of Mice and Men (1982), and I like Gary Sinise worlds more than Tom Hanks.
“This is the same guy who said he was first against the klinton rape and then got beat up and said he would donate more to klinton’s legal fund. So give him a day and he’ll be back to calling Trump a racist.”
He’ll say and do anything for the right price, including play Trump.
Raging Bull***t
Interesting that he claimed to be quoting a Bruce Springsteen line: “one step forward, two steps back.”
Uh, Tom?
Brucie-boy borrowed that from Lenin.
And I’m guessing Mr. Hanks knew as much when he said it.
He already plays a wide range of roles. Most of his roles are not, in fact, gangsters or thugs. Just to cite a few of his notable films where he didn't play a gangster/thug character:
Could keep going, but I think that makes the point.
“Of late De Niro has done a lot of crap movies...”
Yes, I will agree to that, I think he just figures he already proved himself and isn’t very demanding about the roles he picks anymore.
I can’t say I blame him. If I could get $50 million just phoning it in for a couple months, I’d probably do it too!
" ... an' I didn't mean to ruin their pity party."
As Michael Jordan said about politics... "Republicans buy shoes, too."
[In my world, you exist solely for my entertainment.]
BraVO, I’ve had the same view for years.
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