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Tom Hanks’ versatile talent has seen him play many diverse and challenging characters across many decades. Through these varied roles, the Oscar winner has portrayed protagonists who have mostly been some of the most upstanding and inspiring people with towering virtues and qualities.
2002’sRoad to Perditionwas a shift from this image for Hanks. The film based on Max Allan Collins‘ graphic novel of the same name, saw the celebrity channel negative shades as a mob enforcer and a father who shares a complex relationship with his son. TheForrest Gumpstar was well aware though, that it wasn’t all that easy for fans to forget his quintessential ‘nice guy’ image.
Playing An Anti-Hero Still Made Fans See Tom Hanks In a Positive Light
In the 2002 filmRoad To Perditiondirected by Sam Mendes,Tom Hanksplays a killer who along with his son, sets out to seek revenge against the mobster who murdered the rest of their family. The film explored the complex dynamics of a father-son relationship amidst an atmosphere of violence. This crime drama which also starredDaniel Craig, saw theSleepless in Seattleactor channel a negative character.
Up until this point, Hanks had always played uplifting and inspirational characters who have been the harbingers of positivity and change. His Oscar-winning roles inPhiladelphiaandForrest Gump, and films likeThe TerminalandToy Story, have further driven home this point.Road to Perditiontherefore, was a deviation from this ‘nice guy’ persona.
The celebrity too, was aware that the image he had created over the years, would always be associated with him as a symbol. In an interview withEW,the actor addressed this aspect with an entertaining explanation of his role in the crime flick.
There is no doubt that a degree of this ‘image’ is going to follow you into every gig. I remember telling reporters while promoting The Green Mile, ‘I will play a guy who kills people professionally for a living — and you will say that I’m the nicest executioner ever in the movies.’ Look, I am a nice guy.
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Hanks who was asked by Steven Spielberg to read the novel by Max Allan Collins, didn’t fully focus his attention on it initially. It was David Self’s adapted screenplay which he received later, that made him sit up and take notice. The actor admitted that the father-son angle hit home strongly for him.Road To Perditionreceived a lot of praise from fans and critics for its stylized and modern take on a traditional gangster flick.
Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock Are The Most Trusted Celebrities in America
Whether art imitates life or the other way around, Tom Hanks has proved that his on and off-screen persona are one and the same. His portrayal of inspiring characters in films also translated to real life in how he was perceived by audiences. FellowOscar winnerSandra Bullock kept him company in this regard.
Both stars have extended their influence beyond their memorable performances in films. Along with playing relatable characters on screen, Hanks and Bullock have also been viewed as role models for the American people, thanks to their off-screen personalities.
In a poll conducted byReader’s Digestfor the most trusted celebrity in America (viaPR Newswire), theToy Storystar and theGravityactor took top honors among a list of 200 celebrities from various influential professions. From a 1000 Americans who were handpicked to vote, Hanks took first spot with a total of 65% of the total votes, while Bullock came a close second with 63% favoring her.
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The criteria for trustworthiness was determined by values like integrity and character, exceptional talent, moral compass, honesty, social responsibility, and leadership. Apart from his acting excellence, thePhiladelphiaactor has been involved in various philanthropic endeavors by supporting causes such as veterans’ healthcare, education, and environmental conservation.
Road to Perditioncan be streamed on Apple TV.
Sharanya Sankar
Senior Writer
Articles Published :1230
Sharanya Sankar, Writer for FandomwireHaving completed her Masters degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Sharanya has a solid foundation in writing which is also one of her passions. She has worked previously with Book My show for a couple of years where she gained experience reviewing films and writing feature articles. Sharanya’s articles on film and pop culture have also been published on Film Companion, a popular film-based website. Apart from movies and pop culture, her interests include music and sports. She has contributed over 650 articles to Fandomwire so far.
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