Today, I watched Forrest Gump, the 2nd time I've seen it but the first time I was on a bus, so that doesn't really count. This Best Picture winner from 1995 (post about this coming soon), starring Tom Hanks (Oscar-winner) and Sally Field told the story of a man with an IQ of 75 and his interaction in history in the 1960s and 1970s (but I'm sure people know this movie well.)
The movie was an interesting take on the events of the 1960's and 70's and how one man, and a man like Forrest Gump can effect and comment on these traumatic and exciting times. Forrest Gump is an incredibly memorable character and Tom Hanks portrays him beautifully and amazingly, showing the range of emotions on these man, who although he may have been clinically slow, his insight into the world was quite deep.
The film was very good but not groundbreaking or incredible in any aspect. The most interesting aspects of the film in my opinion were the interaction with the great historic events of the time, and also the similarities that could be drawn between this movie and Benjamin Button (I'm not saying it's a good thing but it was interesting to note.) For those who don't know, Benjamin Button and Gump, the screenwriter for both films was the same so therefore the similarities are not shocking. (Nick mentioned this at one point if people read his comments) In my opinion, it diminshed the stature of Benjamin Button just because Forrest Gump came first and it was a better put together movie but both movie certain had independent ideas and characteristics.
Another interesting thing that came to mind during the film were the allusions to other films, watching the film, I felt like some of the shots were very similar to films I had seen, either before this movie or after it. (The ones that came after were obviously homages to this film). The most glaring and obvious example of this was the clear homage to Midnight Cowboy in one of the scenes with the song "Everybody's Talking" and the famous and ironic line "I'm walking here." Also, a film that came to mind at one point was that one of the shots looked very similar to the shot in All Quiet on the Western Front when Paul is carrying Kat back to base after getting shot. This could very easily be made up on my part but it felt very similar and brought that image to my mind.
On the other hand, like I said, some of the shots of Benjamin Button were like this movie and also one of the shots reminded me exactly of a shot of Tropic Thunder, which also probably wasn't done on purpose but then again it is possible. There were other shots that struck me in this way but I could not figure out exactly where these were from.
The final element of the film that also was placed in the film very subtlety was a discussion on existientialism versus anti-existienialism. Forrest says "I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze," plainly stating the two arguments of the ideologies, and in this case, the ideology between his mother's ideals and his friend's thoughts. Finally Forrest comes to the conclusion that, " I think maybe it's both. Maybe both is happening at the same time." And who knows, maybe Forrest is right, but regardless it seemed very interesting that in this film that discussion came up when I was not expecting it.
This is a rather long review, and I apologize but in the end, I have come to the conclusion that people should watch this movie, mainly because it was a multiple Oscar-winner, it had several clever elements, a good story, strong acting, and was overall a very good movie. I do recommend people watch it although, in my opinion it was not a perfect movie. I would like to hear people opinions on this movie though because I know that many people have seen this.
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I absolutely detested this film becuase it glorified everything I hate about current American culture, namely the exaltation of mediocrity. It's oen thing to be an idiot. Many of us are idiots. But, one should not be proud of one's ignorance. One should be ashamed of it.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that Benjamin Button was written by the same guy, but the similarities were striking, and nauseating. I forget what the "slogan" was in Gump that I found so cloying, but when I heard a similar platitude in Button, my wife and I looked at one another, and marched out of the theatre. It was something like, "You never know what's going to come along next," or some such banality.
I need to speak to you before I venture forth to the movies in future. Had I known the connection between the two, I would have stayed home and watched Gilligan's Island, or some other relative masterpiece.
I commented on Seven Samurai, but it was lost when I went to post it. I compared Toshiro Mifune's iconic status in Japanese film to that of Marchello Mastroianni in Italy, and Yves Montand and Gerard Depardieu respectively for France. It was remade in America as "The Magnificent Seven."
I liked Forrest Gump not because it was groundbreaking but because it was entertaining. This movie was't supposed to leave u thinking about some deep meaning afterward it was just to entertaining and that is what mama always said.
ReplyDeleteRegading Billy's comment. My recollection of the film is that it was not just breezy entertainment. Rather, the creators were trying to leave us thinking deeply. The conclusion we were supposed to arrive at after this deep thought is that it is unwise to think deeply about anything. Alas, it appears that our leaders in Washington and on Wall Street took that philosphy to heart, .. to our cost.
ReplyDeleteYour argument is valid for a lot of films and the kind of analysis and explication we do in this class is not appropriate to them. I also have been known to shout "It's just a movie! Shut up and enjoy it." But I think this one is an exception, a movie that aspires to something larger, and fails, ... at least for me.
I enjoyed the fact that I everything seems to go right for Forrest. However, the message of obedience, listening to others, and the simplicity of life angered me somewhat. Forrest always just does the right thing that is over-simplified which is not an accurate description of life. In real life, if everything seemed to go right for a particular person without being too original, the public would probably hate the guy. At first it's fine since he is an underdog; however, it's just one thing after another, kind of a list of Americana achievements and it loses the underdog aspect of it after the metal of honor, ping pong championship, Bubba Gump success, the briefly mentioned Apple boom, etc. But actually its relieving to see someone like him achieve so much, but I think movies where there is less tangible success and more more intangible success are more powerful like I Am Sam with Sean Penn. Nevertheless Tom Hanks did an incredible job and was very enjoyable, at least for the first viewing.
ReplyDeleteShawshank was robbed!
ReplyDelete(Some may contend that Pulp Fiction was robbed. Pulp Fiction was original, but was also an hour too long and had very few moments of relevant storyline)
I'm a little confused - I thought Forest Gump was a response to the ever accelerating pace of American culture of the time (the 90s were quite a boom in everything) and advocating for people to stop racing foward and just appreciate the simplicity and beauty around them. Also, Mr. Bennett, wasn't the glorification not of the idiot but of the observor - because we saw throughout the movie that despite Gump's low IQ, he wasn't really that much "stupider" than anyone - reminding us that none of us really know anything anyway. Maybe I took it the wrong way, but I took away the idea that it's ok to slow down sometimes, reflect, and look at nature and life in a child like manner because there's a great deal to learn from that.
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