Tom Hanks who is the main character in the movie "Larry Crowne" is also the director and the writer. He built his reputation in the entertainment industry as an actor but later on he proved that he can also be a director, a writer, and a producer. Hanks can be seen and heard in many television shows as well as movies ever since he started acting.
But long before he was even given a role in broadcasted shows, Hanks was already part of school plays including "South Pacific" while he was still in high school; he later expressed his will to learn more about theatre to he studied at Chabot College but two year after he changed schools and move to California State University. Then after a fateful meeting with the head of Great Lakes Theater Festival, Vincent Dowling, he was offered an internship at the festival which covered all aspects of theatre and its production. At the same time in 1978, he received the award for Best Actor by the Cleveland Critics Circle Award when he took the role of Proteus in the famous Shakespearian play "the Two Gentlemen of Verona. By 1979 Hanks has decided to move to the Big Apple to pursue his career. By then, he got his first debut film "He Knows You're Alone" and later on booked the television movie "Mazes and Monsters" in that same year. For a preview about upcoming movies you can visit best movies of 2012.
Until then, his list of achievements in film and television continued to be filled. His movies include "Splash" and "Bachelor Party" in 1984, "the Man with On Red Shoe" and "Volunteers" in 1985, "The Money Pit", "Nothing in Common", and "Every Time We Say Goodbye" in 1986, "Dragnet" in 1987, "Big" and "Punchline" in 1988, "Turner & Hooch" and "The Burbs" in 1989, "Joe versus the Volcano" and "The Bonfire of the Vanities" in 1990, "A League of Their Own" and "Radio Flyer" in 1992, "Sleepless in Seattle" and "Philadelphia" in 1993, "Forrest Gump" in 1994 where he won four best actor awards from Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award, National Board of Review Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Southeastern Film Critics Association Award; "Apollo 13" and "Toy Story" in 1995, "That Thing You Do!" in 1996, "Saving Private Ryan" and "You've Got Mail" in 1998, "Toy Story 2" and "The Green Mile" in 1999, "Cast Away" in 2000, "Road to Perdition" and "Catch Me If You Can" in 2002, "The Terminal", "The Ladykillers", "Elvis Has Left the Building", and "The Polar Express" in 2004, and many more. His lifetime achievements have been recognized by many award giving bodies over the past years, and this new movie Larry Crowne is yet to gain recognition.
Late January when the filming started in Los Angeles, California, a few months after the casting was done and was finalized. In the United States, the film will be distributed by Universal Pictures which was actually first given to Summit Entertainment. On the other hand, in the United Kingdom, Optimum Releasing is the company which will be distributing the said film.
The main cast of characters include Tom Hanks taking the role of Larry Crowne, Julia Roberts tasked as Mercedes Tainot, and Bryan Cranston playing Dean. Other cast members include, Cedric the Entertainer, Taraji P. Henson, Maria Canals-Barrera, George Takei, and Pam Grier. Before this film, Roberts, an Oscar winner, has already done a series of movies which led her to the pedestal of fame, but of course coupled by her charm and her unbelievable acting talent. Among her projects include: "Mystic Pizza" in 1988, "Steal Magnolias" in 1989, "Flatliners" and "Pretty Woman" in 1990, "Hook", "Dying Young", and "Sleeping with the Enemy" in 1991, "The Pelican Brief" in 1993, "Mary Reilly" in 1996, "Conspiracy theory" and "My Best Friend's Wedding" in 1997, "Stepmom" in 1998, "Runaway Bride" and "Notting Hill" in 1999, and the list goes on and on for Roberts. Note that in almost every film she either gets nominated for an award or she wins one.
The recession period in the United States has indeed left a great mark to everyone living there especially those who were cut off from their job due to insufficient reasons like lack of education or lack of experience. When Larry Crowne (Tom Hanks) was relieved from his long time job at a big-box company he decided to look for a way to spend his free time and probably in a way start over. This was when he decided to enroll at the local community college for a public-speaking class. In this part of his life, he was able to run into almost all types of people especially the outcasts. Throughout the semester Larry suddenly develops this attraction on Mercedes Tainot (Julia Roberts), his teacher whose passion in teaching was starting to go down the drain.
Many people were affected by the recession during the downturn of the economy of the United States. This is an inspirational movie that might just teach you that there might indeed be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
