Forrest Gump
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Sally Field, Mykelti Williamson, Gary Senise
Inspired by Winston Groom’s novel that shares the same name, the movie “Forrest Gump” follows the life of its titular character, Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks), as he journeys through life.
One of the most important things about Forrest Gump is that in his journey through life, he encountered moments of excruciating pain; pain that he always felt deeply, but never fully understood. His comfort was found in his mother’s simple wisdom and in the realization that – like sunshine after a storm - extraordinary joy and hope followed in the wake of his excruciating pain. His liberation was found in running. Running freed Forrest from a life shackled to leg braces when he was a child and as he grew up, running became the catalyst that protected him from the darkness of the world and gave him hope when the darkness of the world closed in around him.
Forrest’s Gump’s greatest joy seemed to stem from the unbreakable bond he shared with his childhood friend, Jenny (Robin Wright). The bond shared between Forrest and Jenny is unique. While their friendship was born from Jenny’s heartfelt compassion for Forrest when they were children, their friendship endured the test of time because each of them became the proverbial rock that gave the other strength as they grew into adults. Both Forrest and Jenny experience seasons of darkness and pain, but in those dark moments, they always find each other, and in doing so, they find the strength to live again.
During her wild and erratic years, whenever things got too dark, Forrest was always there to protect Jenny and Jenny always came back to Forrest. She never stayed, but she always came back to him because loved her and protected her unconditionally. It was only when Jenny realized she was dying, that she finally gave her heart to Forrest. I think this scene was a turning point for Forrest as well. Up until this point, he has always had someone to take care of him...be it his mother, Jenny, Lt. Dan, Bubba...someone was always there watching over him. At this moment, the roles are reversed because Jenny is dying and Forrest is the one out of all the people she has encountered in her life that she entrusts to take care of her and her son. Forrest takes care of his Jenny and when she is gone, he takes care of their son.
“Forrest Gump” is one of those rare films that define absolute perfection. The film is perfectly cast, but Tom Hanks is truly extraordinary as Forrest Gump; his character expressing both a childlike innocence and an unbreakable determination to be understood. The film won the Academy Award and the Golden Globe for Best Picture, Best Actor for Tom Hanks and Best Director for Robert Zemeckis and these awards were well-deserved. This is one film that I would highly recommend.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Sally Field, Mykelti Williamson, Gary Senise
Inspired by Winston Groom’s novel that shares the same name, the movie “Forrest Gump” follows the life of its titular character, Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks), as he journeys through life.
One of the most important things about Forrest Gump is that in his journey through life, he encountered moments of excruciating pain; pain that he always felt deeply, but never fully understood. His comfort was found in his mother’s simple wisdom and in the realization that – like sunshine after a storm - extraordinary joy and hope followed in the wake of his excruciating pain. His liberation was found in running. Running freed Forrest from a life shackled to leg braces when he was a child and as he grew up, running became the catalyst that protected him from the darkness of the world and gave him hope when the darkness of the world closed in around him.
Forrest’s Gump’s greatest joy seemed to stem from the unbreakable bond he shared with his childhood friend, Jenny (Robin Wright). The bond shared between Forrest and Jenny is unique. While their friendship was born from Jenny’s heartfelt compassion for Forrest when they were children, their friendship endured the test of time because each of them became the proverbial rock that gave the other strength as they grew into adults. Both Forrest and Jenny experience seasons of darkness and pain, but in those dark moments, they always find each other, and in doing so, they find the strength to live again.
During her wild and erratic years, whenever things got too dark, Forrest was always there to protect Jenny and Jenny always came back to Forrest. She never stayed, but she always came back to him because loved her and protected her unconditionally. It was only when Jenny realized she was dying, that she finally gave her heart to Forrest. I think this scene was a turning point for Forrest as well. Up until this point, he has always had someone to take care of him...be it his mother, Jenny, Lt. Dan, Bubba...someone was always there watching over him. At this moment, the roles are reversed because Jenny is dying and Forrest is the one out of all the people she has encountered in her life that she entrusts to take care of her and her son. Forrest takes care of his Jenny and when she is gone, he takes care of their son.
“Forrest Gump” is one of those rare films that define absolute perfection. The film is perfectly cast, but Tom Hanks is truly extraordinary as Forrest Gump; his character expressing both a childlike innocence and an unbreakable determination to be understood. The film won the Academy Award and the Golden Globe for Best Picture, Best Actor for Tom Hanks and Best Director for Robert Zemeckis and these awards were well-deserved. This is one film that I would highly recommend.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.