The “male” version of Meryl Streep (in terms of the frequency with which we see their names in the Oscar books), the regular Hollywood worker that some love to see on the big screen and others love to hate, as bland, harmless, watery. boiled actor.

The only thing you can be sure of is that Tom Hanks he’s a fiercely consistent figure in American commercial cinema who has created a brand of his own, yet one that doesn’t shy away from puckering up or going down less familiar paths.

The actor’s comment about a new book he’s on the way has been making the rounds on the internet in the last 24 hours. Tom Hanks claimed that over all these decades he “only 4 good enough films.”

However, Tom Hanks didn’t name these 4 films, so we essentially took it upon ourselves to do it for him by choosing his top 4 roles.

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“Seattle Waking” (Nora Ephron, 1993)

A 1990s “Affair to Remember,” vying with reverence for “When Harry Met Sally,” Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan’s first movie encounter, before it was repeated five years later in “You’ve got a message on your computer.” . Throw in any “shit” you want to The Seattle Vigilante and it’s still the ultimate rom-com that’s impossible not to leave with a smile on your face, whether you identify with the movie couple or not. And Tom Hanks managed to fulfill his role without resorting to sugary tricks.

3
“What you do!” (Tom Hanks, 1996)

The first of two films he made in his career, Tom Hanks becomes a musical talent scout and eventual manager of the fictional band The Wonders (the second best band we’ve seen on screen since Spinal Tap, and literally No). exists). And here Hanks, from the undisputed protagonist, who more or less lifts the whole film on himself, as he does in most cases, sat on the sidelines for a bit and became an actor in an impressive supporting role. One whose (relatively) little screen time can be sprawling. Moreover, when in this case he took on the role of “not in his own waters”, the role of the “mini-shark” of the music industry.

2
“Beautiful Neighbor” (Mariel Heller, 2019)

The story itself is amazing: “Loser” Esquire reporter Lloyd Wegel (Matthew Reese) takes it upon himself to introduce Fred Rogers, or simply “Mr. Rogers,” to American kids. The second, played by Tom Hanks, is an almost holy figure who seems to be born exactly for what he does: a children’s show that tells very deep truths without losing a minute of its tenderness. The “conflict” will arise between the two men, but mostly within Lloyd, who will learn a good life lesson from it all. If you watch for even a few minutes what the real “Mr. Rogers” was like (in the very good documentary Would You Be My Neighbor?, good time), you will be in awe of how easily Hanks did the job. role – and then you want to hug him. An essential accessory when browsing a large box of tissues.

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“Philadelphia” (Jonathan Demme, 1993)

It’s hard to make a movie about AIDS and not come across as didactic, but also to play a gay man who sees HIV devastate him day after day without being melodramatic. Jonathan Demme and Tom Hanks, respectively, emerge from those deep waters unharmed. Hanks delivered the role with all the subtlety and badass drama that such a complex track requires, and he managed to deliver some of the best straight gay acting since William Hurt in Kiss of the Spider Woman.