3 Films That Will Make You Feel Better About Social Distancing — and the Performances to Watch
by Cat Elliott
Feeling the constraints of social distancing? Casting Networks is here for you with three films that feature protagonists who find themselves completely alone and up against some incredible odds. Our curated list of isolation movies will not only make you feel better about your circumstances, but they also can be seen as master classes in acting. It’s a commonly shared idea that reacting is at the heart of acting. Actors portraying isolated characters don’t have the benefit of playing off of a scene partner, so the performances noted in these three films are made that much more impressive. It may come as no surprise, therefore, that they all feature leads who gave Oscar-nominated performances. So whether you’re a thespian looking to study great performances or you just want to feel better about the struggles of social distancing, keep reading.
Ridley Scott’s 2015 feature, based on Andy Weir’s novel, follows astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon), who is presumed dead and left behind by his crew after their mission to Mars is compromised. Watney is left to survive on the planet, where he’ll have to find a way to make contact with Earth again if he hopes to leave it. We won’t spoil the ending, but you can surmise that the protagonist’s isolated circumstances come with an extraordinary set of challenges. While IMDb categorizes the film as sci-fi, its galactic premise does put our current circumstances in perspective. Social distancing measures may feel like they’re drastically changing our daily routines, but unlike Mark, we’re not fighting to survive on a distant planet while figuring out a new normal. So it’s all relative. Damon’s performance as the stranded astronaut earned him a 2016 Oscar nomination for Best Actor, and he was just one of the big names in an all-star cast that included Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Michael Peña, Sean Bean, Kate Mara, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Donald Glover.
Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours is based on the true events from Aron Ralston’s memoir Between a Rock and a Hard Place, and it’s a story that will most definitely put things in perspective. The film follows Ralston’s journey as a mountain climber whose arm becomes pinned beneath a fallen boulder while he’s alone in an isolated canyon. Ralston spends the next five days reflecting on his life and coming up with a plan, as well as the courage, to attempt to extricate himself via excruciating measures. So if the walls are starting to feel like they’re closing in on you at home, keep in mind that you’re not pinned inside a canyon, like Ralston, miles from civilization. And should your wine selection be running low during this time, remember that the film’s protagonist had to drink his own urine at one point to survive. James Franco brings both the depth and levity required for the character of Ralston, and his performance garnered him an Oscar nomination in 2011 for Best Actor. Should you add 127 Hours to your watch list, keep an eye out for other names like Treat Williams, Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara.
When you think of films that feature isolated characters, this 2000 adventure drama from Robert Zemeckis might be top of mind. It follows a FedEx executive named Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) who survives a plane crash and is left struggling to survive on a deserted island. Just one viewing of Cast Away will give you 143 minutes’ worth of reasons why your circumstances are easier than Chuck’s. Firstly, should your cozy little apartment feel a bit chilly, chances are you have a number of clothing and blanket options to choose from in order to get warm. You won’t have to resort to starting a fire with the most rudimentary of tools, like Chuck. And should you start to feel lonely, there is the advantage of having technology at your fingertips. A friend or family member is just one video or phone call away. No volleyballs with blood-drawn faces on them will be necessary. Hanks lost a drastic amount of weight for the role and received an Oscar nod in 2001 for his performance, which involved carrying roughly two-thirds of the film by himself. Helen Hunt’s portrayal of the fiancée that Chuck left behind is also one to watch.
The above-listed films can not only put the strain of our social distancing in perspective, but they can also inspire us with characters who persist to overcome the challenges of their environments. And the actors who play them can offer encouragement to us as well, even in the midst of their own struggles with isolation. Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson recently tested positive for COVID-19 and isolated themselves accordingly, but the actor continues to use his Instagram account to put out positive messages for his followers. He captioned a recent post, “Thanks to the helpers. Let’s take care of ourselves and each other.” The call to action reminds us that in times like these, we’re not stuck on a deserted island or on a different planet. We can still support and be supported by our communities. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti summed it up best with just one hashtag: #DistancingNotDistant.
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