Review 197: Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is a masterpeice, one of Robert Zemeckis' best films and a really touching look at American history in the second half of the 20th century,
Based on the novel Forrest Gump by Winston Groom, Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) is a simple man with a low IQ but good intentions. He is running through childhood with his best and only friend Jenny (Robin Wright). His 'mama' (Sally Field) teaches him the ways of life and leaves him to choose his destiny. Forrest joins the army for service in Vietnam, finding new friends called Dan (Gary Sinise) and Bubba (Mykelti Williamson), he wins medals, creates a famous shrimp fishing fleet, inspires people to jog, starts a ping-pong craze, create the smiley, write bumper stickers and songs, donating to people and meeting the president several times. However this is all irrelevant to Forrest who can only think of his childhood sweetheart Jenny who has messed up her life. Although in the end all he wants to prove is that anyone can love anyone.
The plot is a beautiful work of art, it tells the story of one man, just one man and the discoveries he makes on a beautiful/amazing odyssey through life. Whilst Forrest Gump may have a low IQ, he also has an decent, honest and optimistic world view, he has no worries, he just flows through life and doesn't pay attention to the downside of life: he just keeps on ploughing away.
He may no be a smart man but this movie shows that you don't have to be smart to be great and the films depiction of his life just moved me almost to tears.
He may no be a smart man but this movie shows that you don't have to be smart to be great and the films depiction of his life just moved me almost to tears.
What's amazing about this film is that shows us American history from the second half of the 20th century and our reaction to it and Forrest Gump inadvertently becomes a part of them, he visits the White House, meets Elvis Presley, meets presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon, earns a scholarship to the University of Alabama from Bear Bryant, witnesses George Wallace's Stand in the Schoolhouse Door, fights in the Vietnam War you name it. It shows us the hard times and the good times of that history and makes us feel a little better about ourselves.
In a way Forrest and Jenny represent the American population in the second half of the 20th century stumbling from one historical event to another, swept along by circumstances, sometimes rising through great heroic actions, sometimes falling by the wayside, while Forrest Gump is on the high road, Jenny is on the low road. Altogether this makes the journey of Forrest Gump, which in its deeply buried origins owes something to American history, is a learning experience as well as an entertainment. And we've got some great character moments-theres a beautiful sequence towards the end were Forrest Gump's running across America and his mother narrates about letting things go and moving on, I got the felling that metaphor for putting the past behind us and learning from what has happened and starting over.
In a way Forrest and Jenny represent the American population in the second half of the 20th century stumbling from one historical event to another, swept along by circumstances, sometimes rising through great heroic actions, sometimes falling by the wayside, while Forrest Gump is on the high road, Jenny is on the low road. Altogether this makes the journey of Forrest Gump, which in its deeply buried origins owes something to American history, is a learning experience as well as an entertainment. And we've got some great character moments-theres a beautiful sequence towards the end were Forrest Gump's running across America and his mother narrates about letting things go and moving on, I got the felling that metaphor for putting the past behind us and learning from what has happened and starting over.
Robert Zemeckis' direction is sensitive/unobtrusive, the cinematography is superb and captures the beauty of America throughout the all the different time periods Forrest Gump ends up as well as the fairytale like atmosphere of Alabama.
The special effects are spectacular , the score by Alan Silvestri is beautiful, the production design is fabulous, the costumes are gorgeous, the make up is wonderful, it's very funny, the props are beautifully crafted, the sound effects are great, the locations are sensational, the soundtrack is brilliant, the begining of the film is just beautiful to watch (it relies only on the direction, score and photography), the early scenes with Forrest and Jenny and even the ones were they are grown up are astounding to look at, the scenes were Forrest runs like the wind are spectacular I mean how did they do that?
The special effects are spectacular , the score by Alan Silvestri is beautiful, the production design is fabulous, the costumes are gorgeous, the make up is wonderful, it's very funny, the props are beautifully crafted, the sound effects are great, the locations are sensational, the soundtrack is brilliant, the begining of the film is just beautiful to watch (it relies only on the direction, score and photography), the early scenes with Forrest and Jenny and even the ones were they are grown up are astounding to look at, the scenes were Forrest runs like the wind are spectacular I mean how did they do that?
Of all the historical events it shows us I especially think the film did an excellent job showing us the horrors of the Vietnam War, the rainny conditions the soldiers had to cope with and the brutality of the battles they fought: those scenes were were "disturbing, unsettling and completely convincing."
The acting is spectacular, Tom Hanks gives one of the best performances of his career playing Forrest Gump. Forrest Gump may not be the brightest crayon the box being born with an I.Q. of 75, but has an unfailingly honest optimistic worldview as well as very soft heart
He’s an unremarkable man who leads an unbelievably remarkable life as he personally witnesses and/or influences many defining moments in American history such as Vietnam and Kennedy.
He champions the idea that any one man can in fact make a difference no matter what their intelligence level is or what their social standing is. Whatever you want to do with your life you can go out and do it.
Robin Wright is luminous and lovely as Jenny, there are litterally no other words to describe her performance
Gary Sinise is just wonderful as Lieutenant Dan Taylor and really makes us feel for his character when he becomes amputated
Sally Field is also wonderful as Forrest Gump's mom and does a fabulous job as our heros voice of wisdom and the rest of the cast is fantastic.
He’s an unremarkable man who leads an unbelievably remarkable life as he personally witnesses and/or influences many defining moments in American history such as Vietnam and Kennedy.
He champions the idea that any one man can in fact make a difference no matter what their intelligence level is or what their social standing is. Whatever you want to do with your life you can go out and do it.
Robin Wright is luminous and lovely as Jenny, there are litterally no other words to describe her performance
Gary Sinise is just wonderful as Lieutenant Dan Taylor and really makes us feel for his character when he becomes amputated
Sally Field is also wonderful as Forrest Gump's mom and does a fabulous job as our heros voice of wisdom and the rest of the cast is fantastic.
Forrest Gump is a masterpeice and just one of those movies you instanly fall in love with, 5/5.
The Anonymous Critic.
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