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The Rewatchables ·

Cast Away

year 2000decade 00sdirector Robert Zemeckisgenre Adventuregenre Drama
host Bill Simmons format Solo Episode
All 15 categories

Most Rewatchable Scene · 26:25

Chuck's visit to Helen Hunt's character

Bill Simmons: The plane crash is an incredible six minutes and one of the best action scenes of the past 25 years, with the view of the water through the plane's front window and the 'brace for impact' moment.

Bill Simmons: The crash has one nitpick saved for later; the co-pilot's bloody head injury might have been toned down, and it is doubtful Chuck survives.

The Neil McCauley “A Book about Metals” Award for Best Line from the Movie · 59:07

"I have made fire."

'I have made fire' and the keep-breathing speech are both loved lines.

The film

Cast Away (2000)

Directed by Robert Zemeckis · Adventure

143 minutes

IMDb Find on JustWatch Find on Rotten Tomatoes
Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Tom Hanks Chuck Noland
Helen Hunt Kelly Frears, Chuck's girlfriend
Nick Searcy Stan, Chuck's best friend and co-worker
Chris Noth Dr. Gerald "Jerry" Lovett
Nan Martin Kelly's mother
Lari White Bettina Peterson
Elden Henson Elden Madden
Timothy Stack Morgan Stockton
Michael Forest Pilot Jack
Jay Acovone Pilot Peter
Viveka Davis Pilot Gwen
Jenifer Lewis Becca Twig
Vin Martin Pilot Albert "Al" Miller
Fred Smith Himself
Valerie Wildman Virginia Larson
Geoffrey Blake Maynard Graham

Everything from the episode

In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.

26:25

Most Rewatchable Scene

Chuck's visit to Helen Hunt's character

Chuck's visit to Helen Hunt's character

In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 00:26:25Read transcript
  • The plane crash is an incredible six minutes and one of the best action scenes of the past 25 years, with the view of the water through the plane's front window and the 'brace for impact' moment. — Bill Simmons
  • The crash has one nitpick saved for later; the co-pilot's bloody head injury might have been toned down, and it is doubtful Chuck survives. — Bill Simmons
  • The escape from the wreck, the propeller nearly chewing him up and the overhead shot pulling away from him in the ocean make the scene hard to skip when flipping channels.
  • The second pick is Chuck's failed raft escape after seeing a boat, when a huge wave throws him to the bottom and cuts him; the boredom of island life is also well represented, compared to the current moment.
  • The third pick is Chuck making fire, called Apex Hanks; it is doubted Brad Pitt or Leo could pull it off, and Damon in The Martian has no scene as good.
  • The next pick is Chuck getting off the island: building the raft, raising the sail and clearing the killer wave, after which the score plays for the first time in about an hour. — Bill Simmons
  • A mini pick is the rescue and Helen Hunt's character fainting on the phone call; losing Wilson is rewatchable but stressful, a 'most makes me uncomfortable' pick. — Bill Simmons
  • The reunion at Helen Hunt's character's house is walked through: she skips the airport party, he arrives by cab, they talk about the Titans, she shows him the maps, then runs after his car in the rain before they accept it cannot work. — Bill Simmons
  • The last pick is the ending, confusing at first but brilliant after rewatches; Hanks is quoted describing rejected scenarios, including Chuck as a media celebrity, before they chose to downplay it; the last six minutes are among the strongest.
  • The Helen Hunt scene is the choice because it is a great six or seven minutes that moves several ways and allows getting annoyed at the husband; others might pick the plane crash or the escape from the island. — Bill Simmons
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39:28

What’s Aged the Best?

Widescreen HD viewing; dentist parallels; ice-skate tooth removal; food and lighter at the welcome-home party; Nashvi...

Widescreen HD viewing; dentist parallels; ice-skate tooth removal; food and lighter at the welcome-home party; Nashville football line; volleyball in the front seat

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 00:39:28Read transcript
  • As a widescreen HD home-theater experience the film has aged well; the blue ocean, clarity and sound benefited as TVs improved.
  • Chuck's dental pain on the island while his fiancee falls for his former dentist creates clever parallels, including his line about wanting a dentist in the cave.
  • Chuck pulling his tooth with an ice skate is pretty cool, though it would likely have caused a deadly infection.
  • Chuck examining the crab legs, sushi and lighter after the welcome-home party is heavy-handed symbolism but effective. — Bill Simmons
  • The line about having a pro football team in Nashville cleverly subverts a setup that sounds like he will confront her about marrying his dentist. — Bill Simmons
  • The volleyball in the front seat at the end went unnoticed for 15 years; it is unclear whether he is returning it or has a new best friend. — Bill Simmons
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42:15

What’s Aged the Worst?

Gilligan's Island references; Chuck's suicide plan

Gilligan's Island references; Chuck's suicide plan

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:42:15Read transcript
  • The Titans coming off a Super Bowl season is offered as aged worst because it has not happened since, followed by an unclear remark that none of it has aged the worst. — Bill Simmons
  • Jokes referencing Gilligan's Island made more sense in 1999 and are barely understood by anyone under 25.
  • An early version is said to have included a scene where Chuck tests a hanging with a tree trunk that snaps, since removed from the TV and home-video versions; it should have been kept.
  • Chuck's suicide plan is called weird and needlessly elaborate. — Bill Simmons
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44:30

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

Nick Searcy

Nick Searcy

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:44:30Read transcript
  • Nick Searcy, who plays Chuck's buddy whose wife died, gets the award; his name was only learned while preparing for the episode. — Bill Simmons
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44:56

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

Tom Hanks raging at the volleyball

Tom Hanks raging at the volleyball

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:44:56Read transcript
  • Hanks getting furious at the volleyball, about taking his chances on the ocean rather than dying on the island talking to a volleyball, is dialed up about 3%, maybe 13%, too much. — Bill Simmons
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45:29

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

Bettina

Bettina

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:45:29Read transcript
  • The candidates are Wilson the volleyball and Bettina, with the injured co-pilot mentioned as a joke option. — Bill Simmons
  • Bettina wins: she is on screen for maybe 90 seconds, yet by the end of her interaction with Chuck he should be with her; the flirting, her truck and her dog all impress. — Bill Simmons
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52:46

Apex Mountain

Volleyballs; Chris Noth; Fiji; Nick Searcy

Volleyballs; Chris Noth; Fiji; Nick Searcy

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:52:46Read transcript
  • It is Apex Mountain for volleyballs, given the 2000 Olympics, a jump in volleyball purchases and Wilson becoming iconic. — Bill Simmons
  • It is peak Chris Noth time, between Sex and the City and a film said to have made $459 million.
  • It is Fiji's apex as the best movie ever filmed there.
  • Not Zemeckis's or Hanks's apex; it is certainly Nick Searcy's; Helen Hunt's apex is probably her Oscar win with Nicholson; the Tennessee Titans getting a name drop for 20 years is only a maybe. — Bill Simmons
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1:00:29

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

Yes, as a Netflix series

Yes, as a Netflix series

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:00:29Read transcript
  • The answer is obviously yes, and it is surprising it has not happened. — Bill Simmons
  • A previously published plan: a pilot covering life before the flight, a crash episode, island episodes intercut with Helen Hunt's character falling for the dentist, possible TV twists like a surviving pilot or natives, then rescue and the return to Memphis; possibly 16 episodes or two eight-episode seasons. — Bill Simmons
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1:05:58

Who Won the Movie?

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:05:58Read transcript
  • Tom Hanks wins, about as convincing an answer as the show has had, and he also wins the nine-year stretch.
Podcast choices
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