Retrospective: Forrest Gump (1994)
Dragan Antulov
A Film Review
Copyright Dragan Antulov 2003
If the main purpose of art is to stir emotions, than FORREST GUMP,
1994 epic drama directed by Robert Zemeckis, is one of the most
successful pieces of art. Years after the premiere, FORREST GUMP
still manages to stir strong emotions among people. Few films are so
beloved and so passionately hated. Reasons for hatred, like in many
similar cases, have very little to with the quality of film - people who
hate FORREST GUMP simply can't forgive its makers from stealing
well-deserved "Oscars" from the hands of those who had made PULP
FICTION. The author of this review is among those who think that
Tarantino's film should have won "Oscars". I also recognise that
PULP FICTION had more than worthy opponent in that particular
"Oscar" race and that its eventual outcome wasn't such terrible
injustice or outrage as many of rabid PULP FICTION fans would like
to believe. FORREST GUMP, despite being inferior than PULP
FICTION, is a very good film.
The script by Eric Roth, based on the novel by Winston Groom,
follows roughly thirty years in life of Forrest Gump (played by Tom
Hanks), Alabama man who has below-the-average level of
intelligence. His mother (played by Sally Field) always taught him
never to see that as disadvantage, and his simple perspective of
world helps him not only to always do the right thing, but also to
prosper and meet some important persons between 1950s and 1980s -
Elvis Presley, George Wallace, JFK, Richard Nixon and John Lennon
- in the process. Jenny (played by Robin Wright-Penn), his childhood
best friend and love of his life, chose different path and tried all kinds
of counter-culture lifestyles. By following their lives and through
their encounters the movie tells a story about important events in
recent American and world history.
If there is a single word that could explain success of FORREST
GUMP, it is "balance". Screeenwriter Roth and director Zemeckis
displayed incredible ability to strike perfect balance between comedy
and drama in this film; this film is both serious and funny,
entertaining and thought-provoking and it could make people laugh
and cry with equal degree of ease. The film owes it not only to good
screenplay and perfect direction, but also to excellent acting.
Although Tom Hanks undoubtedly owes his second "Oscar" to the
usual biases of Academy - his role of psychologically impaired man
is among those that were supposed to bring golden statues to the
actors playing them - his performance in this film is great. Robin
Wright-Penn is somewhat less convincing in her role, but
nevertheless effective. Both Hanks and Wright-Penn are
overshadowed by supporting players - Sally Field is great in her
relatively brief, but memorable role of Hanks' mother, while Gary
Sinise simply shines in complex and difficult role of Lt. Dan Taylor.
For that achievement Gary Sinise deserved "Oscar", at least with
equal merit as Samuel L. Jackson for his role of Jules in PULP
FICTION.
The most talked about thing about FORREST GUMP, however, is the
way in which it revolutionised modern filmmaking. Until that time,
special effects, especially those assisted by CGI technology, were the
domain of science fiction and fantasy genre. FORREST GUMP was
first film to apply them for the more purpose of recreating history or
simply to save on sets. Here those effects create surreal and, until that
time, unimaginable images of dead historical personalities interacting
with present-day actors. Nine years after the premiere those scenes
look less than perfect, in some ways almost laughable - this just
shows how the technology progressed in relatively short amount of
time. This also explains why the concept of objective truth in modern
world needs new definitions - many people who today refuse to
believe that Saddam Hussein was actually captured can find perfect
argument in the technology displayed in FORREST GUMP.
At its time, just as now, FORREST GUMP was often criticised for its
revisionist version of modern American history and less than
flattering portrayal of individuals and movements that tried to
change status quo of American society. Protagonist, instead of trying
to change the world, simply follows the rules, obeys his parents and
authorities and gets his reward in the form of business success and
family happiness. On the other hand, those who try to rebel and be
smarter than the average masses are those who are going to be
punished with violence, drugs, AIDS and disillusionment. Some
might find traces of Taoism in philosophy of FORREST GUMP, but in
the end Groom, Roth and Zemeckis provide ending closer to
Hegelian dialectics - Gump, as embodiment of "proper" America,
and Jenny, as embodiment of counter-culture - reconcile their
differences in bittersweet ending that gives hope for future
generations. However, many viewers would care little about
philosophy or political views displayed in this film; what they would
really appreciate is the quality of filmmaking and the way it was
used for the purposes of good, human, uplifting story - something
we rarely see in Hollywood these days.
RATING: 8/10 (+++)
Review written on December 16th 2003
Dragan Antulov a.k.a. Drax
http://film.purger.com - Filmske recenzije na hrvatskom/Movie Reviews in
Croatian
http://www.ofcs.org - Online Films Critics Society
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X-RT-RatingText: 8/10