Tom Hanks Playfully Calls Movie Critics ‘C—suckers’ and Says Time Is a Better Metric for Success: ‘A Ton of Time Goes By’ and Reviews Don’t Matter

As a fervent admirer of Tom Hanks and his illustrious career, I find his recent interview on the “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” podcast to be a captivating exploration of the intricacies of the film industry. His anecdotes about the evolution of a movie’s reputation, particularly his own directorial effort “That Thing You Do!”, resonated deeply with me.

Tom Hanks joked about film criticism on the “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” podcast, arguing that movie critics aren’t always right in determining a movie’s worth. He humorously called them “critics” while emphasizing that it’s actually time that ultimately decides a movie’s value, not their reviews. For instance, Hanks’ 1996 directorial project, “That Thing You Do!”, was initially panned by critics but has since become a popular cult classic.

Hanks commented on a film’s standing, stating that while previously its worthiness was determined by box office success (a fight), now its significance is measured over time as well. In simpler terms, he explained that in the past, a movie’s success was solely based on whether it made it to the top or not, but now, its longevity and impact are also taken into account.

The actor stated, “Previously, there were these significant points, or ‘Rubicons’, you’d reach.” He continued, “Firstly, do you genuinely enjoy it? That’s the primary question. I fell in love with this script, and that was the first Rubicon I crossed. The second Rubicon is when the film is finally completed, about a year and a half later, and you view it for the first time. At this point, whether it succeeds or not doesn’t matter; you might find yourself thinking, ‘We did quite well.'” This is Rubicon No. 2, he added.

After receiving feedback, we reach Rubicon No. 3, which is either positive or negative: ‘We despise it, we adore it. This is atrocious…Oh by the way, Tom, I noticed you in a film. It was charming.’ At this point, you might want to request your partner’s assistance: ‘Hey dear, could you please move the gun from the glove compartment and conceal it somewhere, as I feel…’

Following the critic’s reviews comes the box office performance, and as Hanks put it, “later on, all that talk becomes irrelevant.” In the end, time outlasts any opinions the critics may have had regarding the movie.

Tom Hanks stated that the movie remains unchanged regardless of its past success or failure, or positive or negative reviews. At times like these, it becomes apparent that what once failed may now succeed, or conversely, something that was popular in the past might not resonate with audiences today.

Later, O’Brien mentioned “That Thing You Do!” and asked if it was acceptable for him to share this, to which Hanks inquired: “May I express my thoughts about the film critics? Is that permissible?

Initially, a critic disparaged Tom Hanks’ film “That Thing You Do!” by stating: “Tom Hanks should distance himself from TV veterans, as this feels like typical TV fare and isn’t particularly special.” However, as time passed and the movie gained cult status, this same critic later praised the film. “They said, ‘Give it 20 years, and it starts to make sense,'” recalled Hanks.

As a film connoisseur, that’s exactly what I expected – the rollercoaster ride, the challenge, and here it is. I have confidence in this cinematic journey, and that’s perfectly fine with me.

Hanks has been making the press rounds in support of his new movie “Here,” which reunites him with “Forrest Gump” director Robert Zemeckis and co-star Robin Wright. Listen to Hanks’ full interview on the “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” podcast here.

2024-11-07 02:46

Tom Hanks Playfully Calls Movie Critics ‘C—suckers’ and Says Time Is a Better Metric for Success: ‘A Ton of Time Goes By’ and Reviews Don’t Matter

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