Had made three films with director Steven Spielberg, all of which are tied to Europe. Saving Private Ryan (1998) revolved around his character and his infantry seeking out a missing private in Europe. Catch Me If You Can involved his character tracking down Frank Abagnale Jr. in France, and in The Terminal, his character was from the fictional eastern European country of Krakohzia.
Shortly before the release of Columbia Pictures' Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001), he was one of several actors speaking out against the use of "synthespians" (computer-generated actors) in the place of flesh-and-blood humans. Nevertheless, he took the lead role in the computer-animated film The Polar Express (2004), a film highly-publicized for its use of new (and expensive) technique of digital actors.
In 1994 - 2004 period, he is the most nominated performer nominated for an Academy Award (4 times, along Sean Penn, Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, Judie Dench and Ed Harris) and is the most winner (2 times).
Was considered for the role of Peter Banning (Peter Pan) in Hook (1991.)
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