Actor Tom Hanks (1956)

The romantic comedy-drama film, You’ve Got Mail (1998), was directed by Nora Ephron. Set on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, the story follows Kathleen Kelly who manages The Shop Around the Corner, a children’s bookstore passed down from her mother. Currently dating Frank Navasky, a liberal columnist for The New York Observer, Kathleen uses her laptop and AOL email account (screen name ‘Shopgirl’) to communicate with ‘NY152’, someone she first met in a chatroom. Despite their agreement to keep personal details private, she learns only the name of his dog, Brinkley. As it turns out, ...

The director Steven Spielberg and writer Robert Rodat collaborated on Saving Private Ryan (1998), an epic American war film. During the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944, the U.S. Army faced heavy losses at Omaha Beach from German artillery and machine gun fire. Amidst the chaos, Captain John H. Miller of the 2nd Ranger Battalion takes charge of a surviving group and strategically infiltrates behind enemy lines for a successful victory. Unfortunately, word reaches the United States Department of War that three out of four Ryan brothers have been killed in action, with ...

That Thing You Do! (1996) is an American musical comedy-drama film written and directed by Tom Hanks, making his debut as a feature writer and director. Set in 1964, the story follows Guy Patterson, a budding jazz drummer from Erie, Pennsylvania who works at his family’s appliance store. One day, his friends Jimmy and Lenny ask him to fill in for their regular drummer Chad, who broke his arm, at a talent show where they plan to perform a song Jimmy wrote. The trio practices the slow-tempo ballad ‘That Thing You Do!’ in Jimmy’s garage. In need of a band name, Jimmy’s girlfriend Faye suggests ...

Apollo 13 (1995), a docudrama directed by Ron Howard, follows the journey of astronaut Jim Lovell as he prepares for his next space mission after having orbited the Moon on Apollo 8. Excitement builds as Lovell and his guests gather to watch Neil Armstrong’s historical steps on the Moon from Apollo 11. Lovell shares with his wife Marilyn his desire to one day walk on the lunar surface. However, a twist of events occurs when Lovell’s crew is informed that they will be flying Apollo 13 instead of their initially assigned mission, due to a swap with Alan Shepard’s crew. Alongside Ken Mattingly and Fred ...

Toy Story (1995) is a classic American animated comedy film from Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures. The story follows a group of toys who come to life when no humans are present. They live with their owner, Andy Davis, his sister Molly, and their mother. The leader of the toys is Sheriff Woody, who sends Sarge and his army men to spy on Andy’s birthday party through a baby monitor. The toys are worried about being replaced by new toys that Andy may receive as gifts. Among the other toys are Mr. Potato Head, Slinky Dog, Rex the tyrannosaur, Hamm the piggy bank, and Bo Peep the porcelain doll. During Andy’s birthday celebration, he receives an ...

Forrest Gump (1994) is an American comedy-drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Eric Roth. Based on Winston Groom’s novel of the same title, the movie tells the story of a man named Forrest Gump who shares his life experiences with strangers at a bus stop in Savannah, Georgia. Growing up in Greenbow, Alabama in 1951, young Forrest has a curved spine and is given leg braces to help him walk. Living with his mother who runs a boarding house, the two are visited by many tenants including a young Elvis ...

Sleepless in Seattle (1993) is a beloved romantic comedy helmed by director Nora Ephron. The film follows Sam Baldwin, a grieving widower and successful architect from Chicago who decides to start fresh in Seattle with his young son Jonah. A year later, on the eve of Christmas, Jonah dials into a popular radio talk show and convinces his hesitant father to open up about his late wife Maggie and their love story, particularly how he knew she was ‘the one’ when he first held her hand. This heartfelt broadcast draws the attention of thousands of women across the nation who are deeply moved by Sam’s words ...

The American legal drama film, Philadelphia (1993), was written by Ron Nyswaner and directed by Jonathan Demme. Andrew Beckett, a senior associate at the largest corporate law firm in the city, keeps his homosexuality and status as an AIDS patient hidden from his colleagues. Despite attributing a lesion on his forehead to a racquetball injury, it is actually Kaposi’s sarcoma, a defining condition of AIDS. Beckett takes several days off work to try and conceal the lesions and manages to finish the paperwork for an assigned case. He then instructs his assistants to ...

A sports comedy drama film directed by Penny Marshall, A League of Their Own (1992) follows the story of Dottie Hinson attending the opening of an exhibit for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1988. Seeing her former teammates and friends sparks memories of 1943 when World War II threatened to shut down Major League Baseball. In a desperate attempt to keep baseball alive, Chicago Cubs owner Walter Harvey convinces his colleagues to fund a women’s league, led by Ira Lowenstein. Soon after, scout Ernie Capadino is impressed by Dottie’s skills as a catcher during an industrial-league ...

Joe Versus the Volcano (1990), a romantic comedy film written and directed by John Patrick Shanley, follows the story of Joe Banks, a Staten Island resident who works in a dreary factory with an unpleasant boss named Frank Waturi. Despite regularly consulting doctors for his chronic illness, Banks remains joyless and listless. Eventually, Dr. Ellison informs him that he has an incurable disease called a ‘brain cloud’, which has no observable symptoms but will result in death within five to six months. The doctor attributes his previous job as a firefighter as the cause of his psychosomatic symptoms and urges ...

The movie The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) was directed and produced by Brian De Palma. It follows the story of Sherman McCoy, a wealthy bond trader on Wall Street who indulges in lavish living and receives sexual favors from Maria Ruskin, a gold digger from the South. While driving back to Maria’s apartment from JFK Airport, they accidentally end up in the dangerous South Bronx area. As they attempt to move a tire blocking their way, Sherman is confronted by two African American teenagers. In a panic, Maria speeds in reverse and runs over one of the boys before driving away. Though initially wanting to report ...

Turner & Hooch (1989), an American comedy starring Tom Hanks and Beasley the Dog respectively, follows the story of Scott Turner, an attentive police investigator in serene Cypress Beach, California, who is preparing to move to a more thrilling job in Sacramento. As he introduces his replacement David Sutton to the town’s sights, Scott bids farewell to his close friend Amos Reed. However, their plans are interrupted when they are called to investigate the discovery of $8,000 at the beach. Meanwhile, local seafood mogul Walter Boyett has one of his employees ...

The American black comedy film, The ‘Burbs (1989), was directed by Joe Dante. During a week-long vacation, suburban homeowner Ray Peterson overhears strange noises coming from the basement of his secluded new neighbors, the Klopeks. Along with Art Weingartner and Vietnam War veteran Mark Rumsfield, Ray becomes suspicious that the Klopeks may be ritualistic murderers. One night, they witness the youngest Klopek carrying an unusually large garbage bag to their trash can and forcefully crushing it down. Despite a rainy night, Ray spots the Klopeks digging in their backyard. The following day, Ray, Mark, and Art ...

Punchline (1988), an American comedy-drama film written and directed by David Seltzer and distributed by Columbia Pictures, follows the story of Steven Gold, a struggling medical student who also happens to be a stand-up comedian. While his medical studies prove to be a challenge, his comedic skills come naturally. However, when presented with an opportunity for success, he buckles under pressure. Enter Lilah, a devoted homemaker with dreams of becoming a comic herself. While she possesses raw talent, she lacks Steven’s expertise in the craft. Initially, Steven pays little attention to Lilah. But after being ...

The American fantasy comedy-drama film Big (1988), directed by Penny Marshall and starring Tom Hanks, follows the story of twelve-year-old Josh Baskin. Josh attempts to impress a girl at a carnival ride, but is turned away due to his height. Feeling down, he puts a coin in an old fortune-teller machine named Zoltar and wishes to be ‘big’. To his surprise, the machine grants his wish, but he soon realizes it had been unplugged the whole time. The next morning, Josh wakes up as an adult and immediately sets out to find the machine. However, he discovers that the ...

Director Tom Mankiewicz made his debut with Dragnet (1987), an American buddy cop comedy. The film follows the story of LAPD Sergeant Joe Friday’s nephew and namesake, who shares his late uncle’s old-fashioned beliefs. He is paired with Pep Streebek, a street-smart and confident newcomer. Their contrasting personalities clash initially, as Friday disapproves of Streebek’s attitude, appearance, and attire. Despite this, they develop a bond while investigating a strange string of thefts. One of the stolen items is Bait, a pornographic magazine owned by Jerry Caesar. Reverend Jonathan Whirley has been ...

Nothing in Common (1986) is an American comedy-drama film directed by Garry Marshall. David Basner, a shallow, childish yuppie recently promoted at his Chicago ad agency, returns to work from a vacation only to find that his parents have separated after 36 years of marriage. Now he must balance caring for his aging and bitter father, Max, while also supporting his emotionally fragile mother, Lorraine. To add to the stress, Max has just been fired from the garment industry after 35 years. While trying to navigate these challenges, David’s ex-girlfriend Donna offers sympathy but also advises him to ‘grow ...

The Money Pit (1986) is an American comedy film directed by Richard Benjamin and starring Tom Hanks and Shelley Long. It follows the story of Walter Fielding, an attorney, and his girlfriend Anna Crowley as they attempt to renovate their newly purchased house. The film is a remake of the 1948 Cary Grant comedy, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House. Walter’s father, also named Walter, has married a woman named Florinda and fled the country after stealing millions from their musician clients. The couple finds themselves ...

The American drama film Every Time We Say Goodbye (1986) features Tom Hanks and Cristina Marsillach. Lt. David Bradley, an American pilot, joins the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II before the United States enters the war. Shot down in North Africa, David sustains a leg injury and is eventually transferred to Jerusalem to recover. While staying at a boarding house until he fully heals, David meets Sarah Perrara, a calm girl of Spanish Jewish descent who is accompanying her cousin Victoria. Victoria has asked Sarah to be her alibi as she meets up with her RAF ...

Volunteers (1985), directed by Nicholas Meyer and starring Tom Hanks and John Candy, follows the story of Lawrence Bourne III. Bourne is a spoiled recent graduate of Yale, Class of 1962, with a hefty $28,000 gambling debt. When his father, Lawrence Bourne Jr., refuses to pay off the debt, Bourne decides to switch places with his college roommate Kent in order to escape from his angry creditors. This leads him to join a Peace Corps flight headed for Thailand. On the plane, he meets Tom Tuttle from Washington State University ...