Tom Hanks Feted, Not Fried

The Film Society of Lincoln Center has had some year of changes: the renovation of Alice Tully Hall, the hiring of Mara Manus to head, the rechristening of their annual award in the name of Charlie Chaplin, its first recipient. How fitting to honor another screen Everyman, that “regular guy” Tom Hanks. On Monday night, Geoffrey Rush and Jane Krakowski and others made their way through abandoned tables in the refurbished lobby, where ravaged plates of mousse and black and white cookies sat waiting for clean up, evidence of a fine dinner for donors and VIPs, and centerpieces featured that nostalgic thing: snippets of film with sprockets. The tribute consisted of the usual clips and speeches: directors Ron Howard, Jonathan Demme, Mike Nichols, John Patrick Shanley, and Steven Spielberg shed light on Tom Hanks's creative process. Sally Field, his “mother” in Forrest Gump, and Charlize Theron-- Hanks directed her in “That Thing You Do” also weighed in on Hanks's exemplary career. Nora Ephron retold the story of Tom Hanks as if he were born Pinchas Greenblatt and married to his beautiful wife (the real Rita Wilson) Rivka. Julia Roberts arrived onstage claiming to have to pee, and sprinkled her tribute to Hanks with enough expletives to cause him to remark at her astounding “potty mouth.”  Speaking of dedication to craft, Jonathan Demme said no one asked Hanks to, but as Andrew, suffering from AIDS in “Philadelphia,” Hanks ate only steamed vegetables and poached chicken for four months. Bruce Springsteen and his wife Patti Scialfa serenaded him with the theme song to “Philadelphia.” And, after a clip of the classic “Chopsticks” tap dance on FAO Schwartz keyboard from “Big,” a rendition on piano was performed. Mary McFadden, Julie Taymor, Christie Brinkley, Bob Balaban, and Jeremy Irons were among the guests as Hanks himself took the stage, and asked, “Where do you go after Lincoln Center?” Well, you don't leave. You stay for an after party of sweets.

Regina Weinreich

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