172 - Forrest Gump (1994)

by on
DVD Box
A dimwitted man recounts his life while waiting for a bus.

Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) was never one of the smartest kids at school - his IQ was not initially adequate enough to go to 'normal' school - but he found a love of running which helped in many times through his life.

His first school friend, Jenny (Robin Wright), later became the girl he endearingly fawned over, but they found themselves separated when Jenny entered the 60's hippie cult and Forrest joined the army.

Through his life Forrest encounters many famous people as well as making friends with Lieutenant Dan and Bubba Blue.

Theatrical Poster
Source: Wikipedia
Forrest Gump is one of my all-time favourite films. I have no qualms with opening a review with that because it is high on most people's choices of great films.

Few of us can put ourselves in Forrest Gump's running shoes. He has a life that we all wish we could all be a part of thanks not only to his unique outlook but because of the places he unwittingly found himself in. This is beautifully summed up by the reactions of the passers by at the bus stop - which in itself is an equally charming metaphor for those who have been briefly touched by Forrest's brief moments in their lives.

I caught a glimpse of Saving Private Ryan on television a couple of days ago and thought it was extraordinary how Tom Hanks can take on two roles that seem to be polar opposites of one another. Similarities can be drawn, however. Both characters featured in the army and they both have a huge empathy for others. It is Hanks' abilities to draw on his strengths that enables him to take on roles that appear drastically different on the surface.

Alongside Back To The Future in Robert Zemeckis' finest films. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure why I'm rating it because, even though it might not be theatrically perfect, if you don't think it's worthy of five stars you simply don't have a heart.

If you liked that review, try these similar ones:

Comments

  1. Chuck06 June, 2012 00:29

    Absolutely a five-star movie. For all the residual character lines that will forever be quoted from this movie, it really was a great film. Glad you agree!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Edward Hall08 June, 2012 08:40

      Damn, I really should have mentioned the shear number of quotable lines! Thanks Chuck.

      Delete
  2. In Which We Start Anew06 June, 2012 03:33

    This is absolutely a beautiful movie... I've always loved it. I need to introduce it to my kids... thanks for the reminder!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Edward Hall08 June, 2012 08:41

      No worries. This should be on everyone's top 10!

      Delete
  3. Tony Laplume06 June, 2012 17:20

    Forrest Gump is an example of how anyone who doesn't think critically can succeed. It drives those who think too critically up the wall to think of how many success stories there are of that kind of person, but then you have Forrest as an example of doing it the right way. Being free of ego is sometimes a very good thing...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Edward Hall08 June, 2012 08:43

      Well said Tony. It's not only being free of ego, but free of critical thinking while still having conscious thought.

      Delete
  4. Stephen T. McCarthy15 August, 2012 03:28

    >> . . . if you don't think it's worthy of five stars you simply don't have a heart.

    I think it ranks very highly on the 'All-Time Most Overrated Movies' list.

    It's one of those movies that everyone thinks you're "supposed" to like, but if analyzed objectively, it is terribly flawed in a number of respects. It always reminds me of 1979's so-called "masterpiece" 'BEING THERE', which was essentially a ten-minute comedic Saturday Night Live-like skit stretched out to an unbearable two hours and ten minutes.

    'Forrest Gump' was a little better than 'Being There', but not much.

    ~ Heartless
    (A.K.A. D-FensDogg)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment