Tom Hanks on 'La La Land'
Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at 8:00AM 
Over the weekend at the Telluride Film Festival, Tom Hanks was on hand to support Sully (which was received positively). At a screening Q&A he got off topic to get effusive about our most anticipated festival player La La Land. The diversion began from discussing the difficulty to in getting an adult drama with no franchise potential like Sully made and how audiences are only craving new experiences at the movies. He went on to praise the boldness of its original songs and unfamiliar characters even though he's completely unassocatied with the film. (We just knew he was a musical man at heart!)
Hanks said:
When you see something that is brand new that you can’t imagine, and you think "Well thank God this landed"... This is not a movie that falls into some sort of trend.
We all understand the business aspects of it. It’s cruel and it’s backbreaking and take-no-prisoners. But there’s always that chance where the audience sees something that is brand new that they never expected, and embraces it and celebrates it... I don’t take anything away from [the studios] and there are some good movies that come out of that. But we all go to the cinema for the same thing, that is to be transported to someplace we have never been before.
Movies stars, they're just like us sometimes. Indeed, this is high praise for the film and its potential to provide a much needed unique cinematic experience to the masses. Aside from the commentary Hanks makes here, it's a reminder that one of the tinier treasures of Oscar season is hearing what movies filmmakers are taken with (apart from their own) - whether it's the commonplace 'actors on actors' pieces or the like.
Aren't you just dying to hear Emma Stone's thoughts on Sully now?
Reader Comments (8)
La La Land is easily my most anticipated film of the year that isn't directed by Xavier Dolan, and I'm so happy to read all of the great ink for it. This truly looks like the film to beat this year, and it's about damn time that a musical actually sweeps through award's season.
GOD BLESS!!!
I think Tom Hanks just can't get more adorable right now
Im still pissed off that Hanks missed a nom for Captain Phillips and this only makes me resent the Academy even more.
I am excited Sully was well received. It is the type of adult drama that fits well with Clint Eastwood's directing sensibilities, I am looking forward to it.
La La Land! I'm excited about it but at the same time I'm keeping away from all the praise not to raise expectations to the point where the film is doomed to fail just because the bar was set too high by my imagination.
Overall, this years fall season seems promising and that is very welcome considering the cinematic black hole of the current summer.
I have not been a real fan of Hanks, but I loved Philadelphia... I also loved him in Capt.Phillips and Bridge of Spies ( a shame neither were Oscar nommed ). I am looking forward to Sully... maybe he will be nominated this year
His point about being fans of others' movies is very true... I remember when Streep wrote notes to Hamilton praising the cast.. and I have read many other stars who were fans of certain movies/actors
I am ready and willing for LaLa Land... but I,too, do not want to be all hyped up and then disappointed... it has happened for me in the past
I'm now more excited for La La Land and I also await what Emma Stone thinks of Sully.
I can't imagine Emma Stone has much to say about Sully.
She'll be sing it's praises.
OMG, I remember earlier that I was not excited for this film at all, but I saw La La Land and I EAT MY WORDS. BEST FILM OF THE YEAR HANDS DOWN. EMMA STONE WAS SO GOOD IN IT AS WELL.
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On another note, Arrival severely underwhelmed me. Amy Adams was the best thing about the film, but she wasn't even that great and was pretty one note. The plot just relied on Interstellar/Inception type mind-tricks and wasn't even as good as them.