Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump is a classic movie. Released in 1994, and starring Tom Hanks as the lovable Forrest Gump, it is a light-hearted film about a simple man who has been surprisingly influential in the history of the United States. He is hopelessly in love with his best friend, and in contrast to his influence on history, often has a negative effect on her life.

The plot of Forrest Gump is absolutely magnificent. From very early on in the movie it is plain to see that Forrest is not your ‘average’ person, and as he tells his life story the audience, as well as the characters listening to his tale, begin to realise just how extraordinary he is. For example, teaching Elvis how to dance is just one of the prominent roles he has to play in shaping American culture. It is exceptionally well-written and the audience cannot help but become emotionally attached to the character. However, the amount of humour in the film is refreshing. It contrasts to other films about special needs (such as Rain Man) or the Vietnam War (such as Platoon) because the way it deals with these subjects is serious, but funny at the same time. You find yourself laughing lovingly at the little quirks in his character and the effects they have on the world.

Tom Hanks is a fantastic actor, there is no doubt about that, and Forrest Gump is the crowning example of this. The character that he becomes is so perfectly complete that I cannot help but admire him. It is very rare that an actor putting on an accent talks with this accent for the duration of the film, but Tom Hanks is flawless. Most impressive though is how convincing his character is. Forrest is completely believable and once you get into the film you stop noticing Tom Hanks is the actor. It is almost as if Forrest becomes a person in his own right. To be able to do this to a character is an incredible achievement, and Tom Hanks undoubtedly deserves the Academy Award for Best Actor for this role. This is even more impressive when you consider that he was up against Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption) and John Travolta (Pulp Fiction) for the award.

The character of Jenny, played by Robin Wright, is a source of heartbreak, both for Forrest and also for the audience. Because Forrest is so lovable, and it is obvious that he doesn’t understand certain things the audience is very sympathetic when he makes a mistake around her. However, during her youth she begins to get quite impatient with this as it affects her relationships with others. Despite being such a pivotal figure in American history, this man is unable to marry the woman he loves. When they eventually do ‘get together’ it is under a dark cloud, and when this dark cloud bursts it is genuinely sad.

The character of Lieutenant Dan Taylor is another interesting one. After surviving Vietnam, he and Forrest go into the shrimping business and make a lot of money. However, he is very bitter and it is only the shrimping business that manages to brighten his spirits. Gary Sinise is very good as Dan Taylor. Playing a character with no legs is not easy, and Sinise manages to be as convincing as Tom Hanks in this role. Dan Taylor is a typical soldier, and seems to wish that he had been killed in battle, just as his ancestors had. The interaction between Gump and Taylor, and Hanks and Sinise, is very good to watch, and added to my enjoyment of the middle part of the film.

The visual effects in Forrest Gump are marvellous. It won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, and this is unsurprising after you watch it. The ability of the film producers to splice two separate film streams together is masterful. Although at times it is glaringly obvious, it is more often than not a very entertaining segment of the film. The particular highlight is when he is presented with the Medal of Honour by the President and bares his backside. The actual CGI isn't anything to write home about, but the video splicing is exceptional.

Forrest Gump is an absolute must-see film. I know I say this about a lot of films, but it is an absolutely magnificent piece of film-making. It beat both The Shawshank Redemption and Pulp Fiction to the Best Picture Award in 1994, which says more than I can about how good it is. I cannot recommend it highly enough.