Key Takeaways:
– Tom Hanks calls 1990 movie The Bonfire of the Vanities, one of the ‘crappiest’ films ever.
– Despite the film’s failure, Hanks views his involvement as a valuable learning experience.
– Co-star Morgan Freeman did not share Hanks’ perspective, critiquing the film and casting situation.
Tom Hanks, the legendary Hollywood actor, gave quite a unique perspective on one of his past roles recently. It was all about the 1990 comedy-drama, The Bonfire of the Vanities. Noted as an epic flop and widely panned by critics, this Tom Hanks flick is seen as one of the worst-ever novel-based films.
Bonfire of the Vanities: A Bitter-Yet-Sweet Reminiscence
Despite holding an impressive 15% critic score and 26% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, Hanks takes a surprisingly blissful view of the film. He even admitted in a 2001 Oprah Magazine interview, “It’s one of the crappiest movies ever made.” Quite a statement for a film that starred an A-list ensemble including Morgan Freeman and Bruce Willis, right?
Despite this, Hanks explained that the film experience was a “fascinating enterprise.” He stated that it allowed him to gain something valuable. Quite an optimistic viewpoint from a seasoned actor, don’t you think?
Learning from the Mistake
Hanks, best known for his roles in films like Forrest Gump and Cast Away, laid stress on the importance of bad decisions in life. Born from this flop film was a learning experience that he seems to cherish. Hanks even noted that the film taught him about the inability to ‘manufacture a core connection.’
The actor’s experience in Bonfire of the Vanities reiterated a life lesson: Not all disasters are as bad as they seem. More often than not, they are the stepping stones to valuable insights that help us grow and learn.
The Freeman Factor
In contrast to Hanks’ views, co-star Morgan Freeman seemed less than impressed with the 1990 film. To the extent, that he admitted to never having watched the movie in an Entertainment Weekly interview. He was particularly critical of director Brian De Palma, claiming that it seemed like De Palma hadn’t read or liked the book the movie was based on.
Freeman also felt the casting was amiss. He thought that Alan Arkin, the original choice for his role, was a perfect fit. Freeman noted that he got his role due to a shift towards political correctness and not merit. An experience that left him feeling a touch underwhelmed.
Despite everything, Freeman played his role to the best of his abilities. Yet he confessed, “I never did get around to seeing the movie.”
That’s a Wrap!
As one might expect, not all Hollywood experiences are showcases of success. But it does seem like they offer ample opportunities for learning and growth, irrespective of the outcome. Just ask Tom Hanks and his 1990 movie, The Bonfire of the Vanities. For now, anyone curious enough can catch the film on Prime Video, and perhaps take a shot at this critically panned masterpiece.
While the film may be far from an Academy Award nomination, it does serve as a reminder. A reminder that you can learn valuable lessons from the most unexpected scenarios. Even if it happens to be one of the ‘crappiest’ movies ever made!
