MIDDLE-AGED MATINEE! #38 - 'Forrest Gump' (1994)

5/5 Stars

When “Forrest Gump” was released on home video, it was yet another film that my dad and I rented from the video story. The good news is that this movie came out at a time where I loved pretty much any and all types of movies. I didn’t just prefer action or comedy films, I would watch genres of all types including dramas.

As the title suggests, the movie follows Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump, a simple-minded man who has several adventures throughout history from the 1950s to the 1980s. He also has several run-ins with significant historical figures along the way including Elvis Presley and JFK.

So, one of the things that I’ve noticed over the years is that there has been somewhat of a backlash against the movie. Some people have accused the movie of looking at the past through rose-tinted glasses and ignoring some of the more tumultuous events of the times that Forrest lives through.

What they don’t get is that the movie does take a look at the tumultuous times except through the eyes of a simple-minded man who just wants to live in spite of the chaos. In fact, I think that people often forget that there is an entire segment of this movie where Forrest goes to Vietnam and loses his best friend Benjamin Buford “Bubba” Blue (Mykelti Williamson).

Tom Hanks plays the titular character in 'Forrest Gump'.

Instead of mourning his friend in despair, Forrest honors Bubba and opens up a successful shrimping company and even gives Bubba’s proceeds to his family.

Yes, we can look back at any time and pick apart what went wrong and focus on all the negative aspects of a certain time and place. However, it is also fine to look at some of the positive things that were happening as well and it is also okay to sometimes have a film that looks back with hope rather than with despair.

The movie may be known for its genuine drama and heartfelt comedic moments, but it is also noted for its amazing performances. Hanks, the man of the hour back then, won the Academy Award for Best Actor and for good reason. He could have easily played Forrest as a completely inept character, but instead he just views Forrest as someone who is capable of many things even if his intelligence suggests otherwise.

Then there is Robin Wright as Jenny Curran, Forrest’s love interest who also has her own journey throughout history. Unlike Forrest, though, Jenny becomes a victim of the times she lives in and has a more tragic storyline. Wright should have won an award and, if I’m being honest, was probably more deserving of one than Hanks.

Robin Wright and Hanks star as Jenny and Forrest in 'Forrest Gump'.

Then there are the solid supporting performances. Gary Sinise is fantastic as Forrest’s wounded platoon leader that later joins Forrest at Bubba Gump. At first, he is an angry character who feels that it was his destiny to die in Vietnam and yet Forrest forces him to see that he still has worth in the world and, like many others in the movie, Sinise gave an award worthy performance.

Finally, there is Sally Field as Mrs. Gump, Forrest’s mother who loves her son unconditionally. For the first part of the movie, Mrs. Gump is the heart of the movie as she is the one who teaches her son that no matter his limitations, he can do anything he wants if he sets his mind to it. Field is perfect at portraying a strong mother who knows how to say just the right things when her son needs to hear them.

Then there is the superb direction by filmmaker Robert Zemeckis. With this movie, Zemeckis was able to direct a beautiful looking film with cinematographer Don Burgess. In addition to that, he also used state-of-the-art special effects to put Forrest into archive footage with historical figures such as Presidents JFK and Lyndon Johnson.

At the end of the day, this is one of the ultimate feel-good movies. I laugh and cry at all the right moments and I’m still sucked into the movie’s almost whimsical narrative. The good nature of the movie may not be for some, but for me it makes “Forrest Gump” one of the best films to come out of the 1990s.