Films Of The 90's: Forrest Gump

Rating: 10/10 (3 May 2006)

Forrest Gump (1994): Starring Tom Hanks, Sally Field, Robin Wright Penn, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, Rebecca Williams, Michael Conner Humphrey, Bob Penny, Jon Randall, Harold G. Herthum, Sam Anderson, Director Robert Zemeckis, From The Novel By Winston Groom, Screenplay By Eric Roth.
Forrest Gump is a classic of 90's cinema. The screenplay by Eric Roth, directly lifted from the novel by Winston Groom is greatly executed, even if it reeks of Hollywood. This film was crying for an Oscar and it shows, but for the most part, it is an emotionally-driven, powerful film that captured the latter 20th century (50's, 60's, 70's, 80's) and its turbulent events brilliantly. It was a huge success for Tom Hanks, who epitomized the innocent but noble spirit of the protagonist in a fine performance he is himself quite proud of as one of his greatest cinematic roles. The rest of the cast bring their characters to vivid life, making us feel for them as human beings. Sally Field is his proud, dignified and strong single mother, who loves him despite his mental retardation and instills self-esteem, morality and good values in him which he honors well into adulthood. The relationship between Forrest and his mother is a strong bond. Robin Wright Penn plays the love of his life, Jenny, who as a childhood friend, protected him from bullies, but whose life is full of darkness and damage. Abused by her father as a child, aiming driftlessly in a world she finds meaningless, she becomes caught up in the Hippie movement of the late 60's, even making the pilmigrage to Woodstock and San Francisco, and later becomes a disco-lover and drug addict during the 70's. She has one bad relationship after another, attempts suicide, and even has Gump's son. But she rejects his love, despite the fact he is the best man in her life. Gary Sinise plays Lieutenant Dan, who fought in Vietnam along with Forrest and with Bubba (Mykelti Williamson). Suffering the hell of war, they lose their innocence and experience trauma, but Lt. Dan loses his legs and cannot live a normal and happy life. Even so, he is blessed by the loyal friendship of Forrest. Bubba dies and Forrest inherits part of his lobster fortune, his yacht and increases in wealth. The most memorable moments of this film, as everyone who saw it in the 90's remembers, are the casual, accidental slices of history that Forrest becomes part of, i.e. He shakes the hand of John F. Kennedy prior to his assassination, witnesses the Watergate Hotel intruders who worked for President Richard Nixon, creates the Happy Face logo "Don't Worry, Be Happy", goes to Vietnam, etc. The movie has a lot of heart, humor and delves into the tragic side of humanity. Despite all the suffering Gump endures, despite his mental deficiencies, his simplistic, happy-go-lucky, child-like attitude makes him survive when others fall apart. This is a great movie.