Tom Hanks has harshly criticized film critics in a rant about the impact negative reviews can have on a project's success.
During an interview for the most recent episode of the podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, host Conan asked the Oscar winner for comments on his directing debut in 1996 with the comedy-drama That Thing You Do!.
In response, Tom blasted film critics who criticized the film at the time of its release.
“Let me tell you something about these ‘b*****s’ who write about movies,” he began, before asking, “Can I say that?” (Translation inspired by the Quebec version of the film Slapshot.)
Conan insisted that Tom could say whatever he wanted.
“My dad writes about movies, and his name is 's*ceur de gr*ne,'” the TV host joked, with the Hollywood icon then recalling a specific storyline.
“Someone who wrote about (That Thing You Do!) said that 'Tom Hanks needs to stop hanging out with TV veterans because it's just like it's made on TV, and it's not a big deal,'” Tom recalled. “The same person later wrote about the cult film That Thing You Do! Exactly the same person. It only takes 20 years between now and then, and it finally finds its audience.”
However, the actor conceded that all actors know they will eventually receive a negative review.
“It’s, you know, it’s the circus. It’s the competition,” he continued. “No ? I have confidence in that, it’s okay.”
Elsewhere in the conversation, Tom used the film Forrest Gump from 1994 as an example of a film he feared would not be well received by critics.
“We had worked so much and we were only 40 percent of the way through the film,” the 68-year-old recalls. “We had shot 27 days straight, including helicopter rides to places in America where Forrest runs across the country with a beard, without a beard. You know, we've been all over the country. And I’m exhausted.”
Tom's new film, Herewhich marks a reunion between him, Forrest Gump director Robert Zemeckis and co-star Robin Wright, is currently in theaters in the United States.
