Best Tom Hanks Acting Performance?

[Lukus Alderman]

My wife and I had a discussion last night about which Tom Hanks character was his best in regards to his acting performance. She told me that his best one was Joe Fox in You've Got Mail. Naturally, I laughed and then went on to tell her that there were better than that.

After thinking about it, I determined that his best performance was Jimmy Dugan from A League of Their Own. I took the question to Facebook and was reminded by many that Ray Peterson (Burbs) was better.

Of course my wife told me that I was wrong and that she just meant that You've Got Mail is her favorite Hanks movie, but whatever.

So now I ask you guys: what is Hanks' best acting performance ever? Dugan? Fox? Peterson? Maybe someone I haven't mentioned? Gump?

Let's hear it.

 

[streettopeschel]

Kip Wilson in 'Bosom Buddies'.

 

[utisdabomb12]

Has to be his role in Saving Private Ryan or Road to Perdition. 

 

[echeese]

Saving Private Ryan

Philadelphia story

Have not watched Capt Phillips yet . ..heard it is good. . qued up in DVR

A League of Their Own though he was really a supporting actor

Charlie Wilson's War

I realize it is beyond the "Lukus Library" but Catch Me if You Can was good though another supporting role

But I am surprised Lukus didn't list the Toy Story series. . . . 

 

[primal defense]

I'm most impressed with Cast away, most of the movie it was just Tom and a volleyball.

 

[Juan]

Not a huge fan of his, so really have no opinion.

But I did and still do love Saving Private Ryan, so I would vote for that if forced, even though it may not be his best overall performance

 

[Lukus Alderman]

Saving Private Ryan

Philadelphia story

Have not watched Capt Phillips yet . ..heard it is good. . qued up in DVR

A League of Their Own though he was really a supporting actor

Charlie Wilson's War

I realize it is beyond the "Lukus Library" but Catch Me if You Can was good though another supporting role

But I am surprised Lukus didn't list the Toy Story series. . . .

Comprehension fail.

I asked what his best performance was, not what his best movie as a lead actor was.

 

[echeese]

Comprehension fail.

I asked what his best performance was, not what his best movie as a lead actor was.

Tom Hanks is considered a "leading actor" and receives top billing in most movies he is in ... . even movies like League of Their Own where in reality he was in a supporting role. . . 

The "comprehension fail' is you once again having little or no concept of the difference in the roles. . .I understood the OP. . .I was simply expanding and differentiating one role (leading vs supporting) from another. . . 

Sorry Lukus. . . .in the future I will try to remember the audience and dumb it down further for you. . . 



But hey. . .nuthin but  :wub:   baby for the world's worst film critic!!!!!

 

[harpethhorn]

Castaway is IMO his best overall performance.

Check out his scenes with Helen Hunt toward the end of the film, (when he has returned to Memphis) and he's terrific. Movie was OK, but he was brilliant.

Forrest Gump- seems fashionable to diss this movie these days, but Hanks has certain scenes that few actors could pull off believeably. It's my close #2.

 

[Sejjr]

The final scene in Captain Phillips was incredible. He should have received a nomination for that alone.

 

[Duke C #11]

I came up with a top ten and almost all are Oscar nomination type performances IMO.

1. Apollo 13

2. Big

3. Philadelphia

4. Cast Away

5. Saving Private Ryan

6. Toy Story 1,2 & 3

7. Forrest Gump

8. Splash

9. Charlie Wilson's War

10. Bachelor Party

 

[Lukus Alderman]

I'm pulling my hair out here.

 

[PropositionJoe]

i saw the movie philadelphia in the 8th grade...and even at that age i was tremendously moved by his opera scene. 

i gotta go with philadelphia. 

 

[echeese]

Two great scenes from Charlie Wison's War

 

[echeese]

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Castaway, because I'm convinced he left some of his soul in that movie.

Way down the list at #2 would be Forest Gump. IMO, that was a role only Hanks could play.

 

[texasdobbs]

Boiled shrimp. ... baked shrimp. ... fried shrimp. .....

 

[joeywa]

Kip Wilson in 'Bosom Buddies'.

Yep.  Had to be Kip.  That was a helluva stretch. 

 

[MikeV73]

Joe Versus the Volcano. Had to put this in to complete his body of work.