Hello, and welcome back to Collaboration Week, wherein I am exploring the best direct/actor collaborations of all time. Today I’ll be looking at a director who has defined cinema for generations, and the actor that he works best with. This combination is... Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks!
In terms of director/actor combos, these two have only teamed up thrice, with Saving Private Ryan, Catch Me If You Can, and The Terminal. (I have only seen the first two. Don’t hold it against me.) As producers, they also created the two hit HBO miniseries’ Band Of Brothers and The Pacific.
Spielberg is one of the most widely recognized names in movie history. He’s been in Hollywood forever, cranking out hit after brilliant hit. But when he found Tom Hanks to play Captain John Miller in Saving Private Ryan, he struck gold. Not only is Saving Private Ryan the greatest war movie ever, (it is, by the way,) but it also had a monumental influence on every war movie that has been created since.
Tom Hanks is no slouch in the fame department either. He’s been in starring roles since before I knew how to spell my own name. His range as an actor is phenomenal, and his roles in Spielberg movies are a testament to that fact. Every part that Hanks has played under the direction of Spielberg is wildly different, which is unusual for collaborators, as they can sometimes fall into a rhythm that is hard to break from.
Even though this isn’t really on topic, it is absolutely worth mentioning how much these two have given to the community of U.S. veterans. Their work on Saving Private Ryan seems to have inspired these two to take action to help our veterans, particularly WWII veterans. And like I mentioned earlier, their work on Band Of Brothers and The Pacific are equally as magnificent as any war movie I have seen.
Until next time,
Harry
In terms of director/actor combos, these two have only teamed up thrice, with Saving Private Ryan, Catch Me If You Can, and The Terminal. (I have only seen the first two. Don’t hold it against me.) As producers, they also created the two hit HBO miniseries’ Band Of Brothers and The Pacific.
Spielberg is one of the most widely recognized names in movie history. He’s been in Hollywood forever, cranking out hit after brilliant hit. But when he found Tom Hanks to play Captain John Miller in Saving Private Ryan, he struck gold. Not only is Saving Private Ryan the greatest war movie ever, (it is, by the way,) but it also had a monumental influence on every war movie that has been created since.
Tom Hanks is no slouch in the fame department either. He’s been in starring roles since before I knew how to spell my own name. His range as an actor is phenomenal, and his roles in Spielberg movies are a testament to that fact. Every part that Hanks has played under the direction of Spielberg is wildly different, which is unusual for collaborators, as they can sometimes fall into a rhythm that is hard to break from.
Even though this isn’t really on topic, it is absolutely worth mentioning how much these two have given to the community of U.S. veterans. Their work on Saving Private Ryan seems to have inspired these two to take action to help our veterans, particularly WWII veterans. And like I mentioned earlier, their work on Band Of Brothers and The Pacific are equally as magnificent as any war movie I have seen.
Until next time,
Harry
I only disagree with one thing, while Saving Private Ryan is one of the greatest war movies of all time, I think the distinction of GOAT goes to Full Metal Jacket (at least for me). However, SVP does have the single greatest scene in any war movie ever, and one that will likely never be matched. I refer, of course, to the storming of the beach at the beginning of the movie.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you made me realize I need to see the terminal.