Forest Gump-This Is What Hollywood Needs To Remember
Remember when people weren’t sick of Tom Hanks? Yeah, those were good days and Forest Gump is a classic all the way. Its one of those films I am reluctant to divulge too much info about as it is just that good. In short, Gump played by Hanks, is a insightful simpleton who has the ability to run like the wind and is exceptionally honest. The film follows the life of Gump from his early childhood, where his mother learns that Gump has a low I.Q. , through his college football days, to Vietnam and beyond. Along the way Gump interacts with some of modern American history’s greatest figures and quietly has his impact upon history as well.
Some cutting edge digital effects, in 1994 at least, are incorporated to insert Gump right into history. If you haven’t seen the film, its just plain fun and it’s the kind of film that Hollywood could care less about making now, even though the film was tremendously successful pulling in around $600 million dollars, while having a modest $45-$55 million dollar budget. Thus, in every regard Forest Gump is a total home run, a true masterpiece.
Every aspect of the film is fantastic as we are literally treated to numerous fine acting performances from Hanks, Gary Sinise, Sally Field and Robin Wright Penn who all turn in some of the very best performances of their careers. The script from Eric Roth, (The Postman, The Insider, The Horse Whisperer) who must share the bulk of the credit with novelist Winston Groom, both serves as the over-looked and under appreciated key players in the Forest Gump saga. Together, the strong acting and top-notch script and visual effects turn Forest Gump into one of the best films of the 1990's and in some ways one of the top films of the era. Thus, with all these elements working in unison, it is no wonder that the film was a hit and sticks out in the minds of a great many filmgoers as being a classic flick.
Forest Gump and Contact will likely go down as two of Robert Zemeckis greatest works. With Forest Gump, Zemeckis went beyond his normal comfort zone and created a remarkable film.
In the end, Forest Gump is firing on all cylinders and is a must see for any film fan. There are many reasons a film “sinks are swims” but when everything is done right, when the production values are high, the casting is sharp, the acting is strong and the script is a gem, then there is no mystery whatsoever. Honestly, the true mystery is why Hollywood doesn’t try to produce more films that reach out for magic, after all whether the suits in Hollywood like it or not, that is their job, and that is why we pay to go to the movies.
Story A+
Acting A+
Visuals A+ (There are a lot of really interesting visuals that were highly unique back in their day.)
Originality/Innovation A+
Enjoyability Grade A+
Home Theater/HD Factor A+
Overall Grade A+ (Forest Gump is a modern masterpiece.)
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