Hollywood Gothique
The Vault

2001 is Tom Hanks favorite film

Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks selected Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 masterpiece 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY as his favorite film. According to a Reuters article, Hanks told a German magazine: “I just can’t see enough of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY.”

Hanks cited four other titles to round out his personal Top Five: ELEPHANT (2003) by Gus Van Sant; THE GODFATHER (1972); FARGO; and BOOGIE NIGHTS (1997).

I must admit I’m disappointed that JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS did not make the list. Back in 1992, Hanks presented the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Gordon E. Sawyer Award for lifetime achievement to special effecs master Ray Harryhausen. After a montage of clips from Harryhausen’s ouvre, Hanks enthusiastically claimed:

“Some people say CASABLANCA or CITIZEN KANE. I say JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS is the greatest film ever made.”

Even allowing for exaggeration due to the obvious enthusiasm of the moment, you would think Hanks could have slipped JASON in at #5, maybe in place of the interesting but vague ELEPHANT.