Imagine for a while that you were stranded on an island for four years without the necessities of life. How would you survive? Would you stay stable both physically and emotionally? Would there be any hope of going back home and seeing your loved ones? These are some of the many questions that you will see, hear and feel in Robert Zemeckis' most unusual new film Cast Away.

Tom Hanks plays Chuck Noland, a Federal Express workaholic who has to travel on a plane to ship number of packages on Christmas Eve. "I'll be right back" were the last five words he said to girlfriend, Kelly Frears. While somewhere on Pacific Ocean, the plane is caught in a dreadful storm. The result is a plane crash leaving Chuck stranded on an Island. And this is where the story begins.

Tom Hanks delivers a performance that won't beat but definitely match the one in Forrest Gump. He plays three different characters in the film. And I don't think that anyone could have pulled them off any better than him. Before the plane goes down, he portrays the character that is like many of us. A character who doesn't have time to do everything. After the crash, all he has is time. And once he leaves the island and is surrounded by his loved ones, he understands the true meaning of time. Hanks is very faithful to all three characters. But like many of you my favorite character was the one that we saw on the island. There is no doubt in my mind that he will get nominated for an Academy Award and perhaps win it for the third time.

Helen Hunt who disappeared from the big screen ever since her Oscar Winning Performance in As Good As It Gets appears in her third film in the last three months. She plays Kelly Frears and gives more of a supporting role but is the driving force in the story. She lasts for almost 20 minutes on the screen but delivers a caliber performance. Without giving too much away, I would say that her appearance in the latter part of the film is an important one. Remember how she opens the door for Chuck (Tom Hanks) in the trailer. From that moment onwards, her performance is worth the ticket price.

What can I say about director Robert Zemeckis? He is one of the most talented, brilliant and my favorite directors. Throughout his career he has made some of the most different and successful films. His long list of achievements include the comical adventure Romancing the Stone, the time traveling saga Back to the Future Trilogy, the ground breaking Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Death Becomes Her. But his last three films have proved to us that he can do anything he tackles. The world phenomenon Forrest Gump, the sci-fi drama Contact and his summer 2000's blockbuster thriller What Lies Beneath.

As far as I am concerned Cast Away is his second best film. For me none of his work can beat Contact. Despite that, Cast Away is still a film that encompasses master storytelling with some new laws that should set standards for future Hollywood films. The limited use of special effects, the lack of music, the haunting cinematography, the beautiful sound and one of the most unforgettable performance by Tom Hanks wrap up everything a good film needs.

Like his past films (Forrest Gump and Contact) Zemeckis ensures the use of real events, media, people and places. He brought in the president of Fed Ex 'Fred Smith (VII)' to play himself and deliver a speech which was perhaps not very important. But Robert Zemeckis is a man of authenticity and believes in realism. You will see real FedEx trucks, planes on the airport, packages and CNN coverage on the disappearance of Chuck. He took care of every minor detail. And these minor details take you inside the world created by Zemeckis and leave you no choice but to believe them. I just hope every director adapts to this technique at one point in her/his career.

The use of Special Effects in this film are limited but play an integral part. The crash of the plane is perhaps the most realistic plane crash I have ever seen, in a film, since Alive. The scene will draw you and leave such a solid mark in your memory that next time when you feel turbulence on a plane, the plane crash scene will revive in your mind. Extremely realistic and heart pounding.

FX were also utilized when Chuck fights the storm in the beginning and towards the end of the film. These scenes were very similar to those in The Perfect Storm. There were many other places where FX were used but I won't tell you more. It may ruin your surprise.

Don Burgess who has provided cinematography on the Zemeckis last four films takes us on a beautiful yet haunting adventure through the eyes of Chuck Nolland. The camera movements that resemble to his last work What Lies Beneath are fascinating. The shots from the top, side, inside the water, under the water and not to mention my personal favorite, Fed Ex package (you will see what I mean) are absolutely incredible.

Music and sound are two of the most important elements in a film. In Cast Away the case is no different. The limited use of music and extensive use of sound are reasons (as well as Hanks' performance) that won't let you fall asleep. The moment Chuck lands on the island, the beautiful music of nature takes over us. I am sure many of you will take sounds like the water hitting the rocks, the heart pounding thunder storms, the blowing winds and the talking trees for granted since they are simply in the background. But if you really pay attention and imagine that there were no sounds of water, trees and winds -- what would the film be like then?

When I first read that there is barely any music in the film, I was a bit pessimistic about it. But when I finished watching it, I said to myself "what other way of tackling this story than not having much music". Although Alan Silvestri's musical score doesn't come until later into the film, it arrives at just about the right time. The theme is somewhat similar to John Williams 'Hymn To The Fallen' from Saving Private Ryan but brings Silvestri's own little touch. You will hear hints of Forrest Gump and Contact in it.

Does Cast Away deserve an Oscar Nomination? Yes it does. Will it win it? I highly doubt it. Why? Cast Away is not one of those films that Academy would recognize for Best Picture.

Overall, the film gets 9/10 on my scale. I highly recommend it and urge everyone to go see it despite your views on the trailer. It is a landmark of a new style of filmmaking and story telling. It is not one of those films where in the end things turn out as planned, of course, this is not to say that things don't work out at all; they do but in a special way. That's the wa y of life. Things have a special way of working out but unfortunately we don't know how. And if everyday we all tell ourselves, like Chuck does: "tommorow the sun will shine and who knows what a tide could bring", life would become much easier.