The iconic TV show Tom Hanks calls “a work of art”
Emerging as one of the most celebrated actors in the global landscape, Tom Hanks‘ trailblazing career has guided him to the top of the industry. While the first half of his career is filled with widely beloved gems like Forrest Gump, Hanks has continued his excellent run in recent years. New collaborations with filmmakers such as Baz Luhrmann and Wes Anderson have ensured the addition of interesting projects to his already stacked body of work.
As an actor, it’s only natural to be inspired by the legendary predecessors who helped define the potential of the cinematic medium. On multiple occasions, Hanks has spoken at length about his favourite movies and how they have impacted his own creative journey. Citing the likes of Stanley Kubrick’s overwhelmingly powerful 2001: A Space Odyssey and William Wyler’s seminal The Best Years of Our Lives, his selections are always fascinating.
However, television has also shaped Hanks’ artistic sensibilities, and there’s one show in particular that has made him ponder the sociological value of the medium. During a conversation with Oprah, the actor opened up about the function of cinematic representations and how they impact the lives of audiences. According to Hanks, the brilliant TV show that handles these pluralities of morality and human flaws perfectly is The Sopranos.
“Shakespeare said it best: Hold the mirror up to nature,” Hanks began. “Human behaviour is worthy of examination and celebration. The easiest thing to do is to rag on the media because it isn’t doing a very good job right now. It is so much easier to profit from celebrating the worst aspects of ourselves. Acting strikes me as the antithesis of that. We can examine the worst aspects of ourselves, but we don’t have to celebrate them.
While elaborating on the beauty of David Chase’s magnum opus, the actor added: “That’s why The Sopranos is a work of art — it is authentic. It communicates that there are people out there who think a certain way. And in a weird way, we can recognise ourselves in the characters. Even if we’re good Catholics who’ve never been to a strip bar, we can still say, ‘He’s going through the same thing I’m going through.’ And that is a magnificent thing.”
Regarded by many as the greatest show in TV history, The Sopranos elevated the medium by incorporating a highly cinematic approach to its investigation of the human condition. James Gandolfini immortalised himself via his stunning portrayal of Tony Soprano, the psychopathic mob boss who processes his guilt by using a therapist as a confessional booth while embarking on a self-destructive journey of unfettered violence.
Watch the famous opening credits from The Sopranos below.
