Directed by:
Robert ZemeckisScreenplay:
Eric RothCinematography:
Don BurgessComposer:
Alan SilvestriCast:
Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, Sally Field, Haley Joel Osment, Peter Dobson, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Hanna Hall, Brett Rice, Kirk Ward (more)VOD (5)
Plots(1)
The story of a man who, over the course of three decades and despite having an IQ of only 75, leads a most extraordinary life. (official distributor synopsis)
Videos (2)
Reviews (13)
Coincidentally, I just now saw Forrest Gump after a long time, two days after Bertolucci's The Conformist. And so I found connections between those films that I’m guessing no one who considers Zemeckis' opus a testament to the simple beauty of life, love, and everything would ever want to hear about. And since I'm still fascinated by the director's visual perfectionism, mise-en-scène, and choreography, which he was able to employ here thanks to an episodic structure tracing major turning points in American history, I had to look for ways to defend the film, because it really is terribly well made. (Note: on the first day after vaccination, I observed my brain's increasing natural resistance to writing sentences shorter than two run-on sentences, I'll continue to monitor that). Not knowing the Groom source material, the film then offered me a new reading, and that of the idiocy of 20th century American history. A century that punishes anyone who chooses to have a role in it (or idea, see the return to The Conformist) yet rewards the simpletons who can't or won't grasp its elusiveness, randomness, and complexity, and just follow the curriculum laid out by their (by no means sophisticated) mentors (Mother, Jenny, Lieutenant Dan). Thus they create a picture of a chaotic history in which a simpleton lives happily, resigned in their understanding by definition, and they reward him with a girl he loves and is unable to recognize that she is just coming to him for rehab or when her kid is at risk of going to the orphanage.
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I am quite convinced that "life is like a box of chocolates and that you never know what you are gonna get", although not all chocolates are great and some are out of date or inedible. Anyway, I found this movie perfect, and it taught me a valuable lesson. Personally, the main male protagonist's statement that "Stupid is as stupid does" was enough for me to have a spiritual epiphany. For me, there is much more wisdom and insight in that simple sentence than in the whole philosophical musings on chocolates, and my peace of mind improved more thanks to this simple sentence than it did watching Demolition Man knitting. In other words, thanks to Forrest, I have gained more understanding and appreciation for those who have a bad opinion of me, and I have learned beautifully to rise above this. I would almost say it has made me a better person. Anyway, this movie is a real gem. It is sweet, funny, and intelligent with an incredible amount of perspective. It manages to present even serious things in a way that hits you but does not destroy you mentally but rather makes you stronger. You can watch this movie at any time, and it is always wonderful.
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I don't know what to add. The reviews here capture everything that this remarkable film has won us over with. I like genre mixes and Forrest Gump is no exception, it combines romance, drama, humour and adventure. The actors are convincing and portray their characters wonderfully. A gem of cinema that tastes like the best bit of the whole candy and its delicious taste lingers to this day.
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For me, it’s in the same weight category as the favored The Shawshank Redemption. The film is brilliantly designed to grab you by your soul. It is a film with well-hidden manipulation and cheap gestures, which at first glance completely disappear in a refined game with the audience's emotions. The well-arranged narrative, which is licked like a good ice cream, is pleasantly sweet and smells like strawberries. But like any ice cream, it's more of a tasty dessert. True, Zemeckis and Hanks are master confectioners, and Forrest is a spoiled dessert in every way. With its readability, well-created illusion of intimacy and nicely wrapped thought structure, Forrest Gump is simply a treat for the masses. But I simply prefer the main film courses, and that is why this touching sweetness is only a four-star affair. In a Hollywood feature film, however, the story of a lame boy who goes through modern American history with the ease and foresight of a genius idiot is a truly rare phenomenon that will stick in your memories for a long time. But for me it will never be as intense as it was when I first watched it as a boy...
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Robert Zemeckis' masterpiece, an American variation of how a simpleton stumbled upon happiness without any effort of his own. A comedic journey through the history of modern America, where the main character, an innocent guy with a disability, traverses life and encounters famous figures from American history, even inadvertently playing a role in events like the Watergate scandal. Excellent casting, with situational and verbal humor. Americans love happy endings, but Zemeckis parodies the idea of effortlessly achieved happiness so much through his character that the whole film ends up feeling like a mockery of the traditional American way of life and the American dream. Tom Hanks excels in the lead role. Overall impression: 95%.
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