FILM REVIEW:

FORREST GUMP

RUNTIME: 142 min

RELEASED DATE: 1994

GENRE: DRAMA / ROMANCE

DIRECTOR: ROBERT ZEMECKIS
WRITERS: WINSTON GROOM (novel), ERIC ROTH (screenplay)
STARS: TOM HANKS (Forrest Gump), GARY SINISE (Lt. Dan Taylor), ROBIN WRIGHT (Jenny)

 The US as “the land of the opportunities”; it has been the common and core theme of many films in Hollywood during its existence. It has acted as a mirror to reflect the American values and culture such as America as the country which is always on the “move”, the land of freedom, growth. The movie Forrest Gump can be considered as one of these movies. Heedfully seeing, it has got some elements of American identity. The story of a man who is intellectually and mentally under grown and underdeveloped but he appears to be appropriate and rightful in the works in his world. He becomes an icon and hits the press all over the country. His dreams turn to reality and this shows that your imaginings will come true if you try hard enough and at the same if you are well equipped to freshness and honesty. Surprisingly, he visits three presidents, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon. He receives honors and makes accomplishments in table tennis, shrimp industry, Vietnam War. A “simple” man from Alabama who travels around the world “runs” across America and meets political, cultural figures like Mao and John Lenon as well. The amazing point that makes the main character of the film, Forrest Gump, loveable and believable is that he keeps his childhood innocence into maturity probably because he is not very smart; his IQ is 75 below the normal point which is 80. On the other hand he remains as a child in mind and soul even though he is physically grown. This can be drawn in the picture which he shows his wounded buttock to the President Johnson in the White House while he is receiving his Medal of Honor. This is the indication for his simplicity. He firmly believes in three things God, his mother and his lifelong love, Jenny, which remembers her all the time. Although the movie keeps eye on Gump’s life career but mainly it is depicting different periods of American history. For example, it shows scenes from racial discrimination, Vietnam War, Kennedy Assassination, Watergate scandal and so on. In some cases it’s hard to distinguish clearly what the genre the movie is, whether it is drama, romance or a satire. It can be argued that the director skillfully amalgamated comedy, drama and documentary into each other.
Technically speaking, the movie is a flashback and a narrative mode in which the movie starts from showing the viewers that Gump is sitting on a bench waiting for a bus. At the same time, he tells the story of his life to different people waiting for the shuttle bus. His story is the tale of the nation and the country and even generally the world as well. Visually impressive, the makers could successfully have put Gump in scenes with the US presidents. Even they could have made it possible to hear from Kennedy in Footballers’ visit at the White House and from President Johnson. Due to this technicality and specialty it won the Academy Award for the Best Visual Effects in 1994.
There are really outstanding and eye-catching pictures in the movie which makes it a satire and a criticism against the government and the political establishment. For instance, the scene in which Gump is invited to give speech against the war in Vietnam to the crowd holding “peace” placards and chanting “stop the war” or “bring troops home”. He begins with “Well, there is only one thing I can say about the war in Vietnam, in Vietnam your” suddenly an army general puts off the wire and nobody hears what Gump is saying and they are chanting “ speak up” , “ we can’t hear you” but he is keeping his speech on. At the same time some try to fix the problem of the sound system. But it is too late and Gump brings to end his speech with “That’s all I have to say about that.” The scene implies that there are things that should not be heard by anybody. These sayings put in danger the interest of some groups or people. Apart it implies that the mainstream of Americans should not be told and informed about such important things. This could be considered as the violation of the freedom of speech which the movie could successfully and skillfully show it in the best way.
The movie was a hit and nominated for 13 Academy Awards which it won six of them for the Best director, actor, picture and the best screenplay in 1994. Apart, the movie won the Golden Globe Award for the Best motion picture and best actor as well as the best director in 1995. Its gross box office was nearly $330m and in the opening weekend it made about $25m in the US. It is ranked as the 71st of the best motion picture of the all time by (AFI) American Film Institute.
Gump’s capability to be in the right place at the right time makes him exceptional, too. He saves the lives of the American troops in Vietnam War while he was looking for his intimate friend Buba. Once He ran like a wind into the football field and he made part of his life career as a footballer star by being too fast in the matches. He is the one who calls the police and apprises them the weird condition in the hotel which was the lead to disclose the Watergate scandal that led to the resignation of Nixon. His simplicity and honesty is playing a key role in all these situations. Despite being not “normal” as the doctor and headmaster tell to Gump’ mother in the beginning but he make a very successful life career, a war hero , a cultural icon , a table tennis champion , a very successful businessman. The lessons that Gump are given by his mother are very simple but very helpful. One of them is faith and believes in destiny. To do your best but at the same time to keep your faith and be faithful on what destiny brings about to you, to accept it and “live” with your “life”. The main message of the movie can be “when there is a will, there is a way.” And as the British people put forward “Honesty is the best policy.” These two are as the secret to happiness which Gump finds it in his life. Other than that his life is inspiring for many such as Lt. Dan Taylor and even Jenny who accuses Gump that “you don’t know what love is” finally backs and returns to the “kind but slow-witted” man to make her own life much more “meaningful” and cheerful. She even gave birth to a child and named him “Forrest Gump”; a new generation but with the old and respected values and beliefs. This can be the evidence of continuity in American culture and society.
Forrest Gump’s tale and world is ours, too; with too many ebbs and flows; with sorrows and joys; with defeats and victories. But the tool and rule to overcome the difficulties is simple; to be honest and hopeful. He is exceptional mentally but not morally. His morals help him to make the “Forrest Gump” an icon in the movie and in the real world as well.