rev_f_forestgump

FOREST GUMP
tom hanks / gary sine

as reviewed by Jack Crompton at Amazon.com, July 4, 2007

Heartwarming, clever...
Forrest Gump is the ultimate feel-good movie...

The sweetest of love stories, philosophically profound, deep as the ocean and light as a feather... and very, very funny. Forrest Gump is the ultimate feel-good movie.

This film is a masterfully written and directed tale that punctuates deep philosophical substance with a good deal of humor. (The scene of Forrest and Bubba scrubbing the floor with toothbrushes while Bubba enlightens Forrest on the details of `shrimping' is just too funny for words).

There's never been a film like this before or since. It ingeniously weaves the history of a generation into the script, taking scenes from the Vietnam war, JFK, the 60's protest movement and flower power, and onward into the age of AIDS. Actual film clippings from various historical events are cleverly edited to enable Forrest to step into them and interact. Wonderful Stuff, and highly relatable to anyone (like me) who grew up in the sixties.

As richly entertaining as Forrest's life is, and as very funny as many of the scenes are, it's still the character of Forrest... his genuine guileless character that carries the movie. He's impossible not to like. Viewing the film, you become significantly invested in his life. You share his heartbreak as Jenny repeated shuns the open heart he offers her. And you admire his quiet acceptance of 'what is', his lack of self consciousness - devoid of the myriad games and manipulations that most people of `greater intelligence' display. The simple open heartedness and sense of personal integrity which he carries through life are inspirational and stand out in contrast to all others around him.

The supporting cast are all excellent. Jenny plays out a sad character, always looking somewhere else for love, while it has always been right in front of her all along. Lt. Dan, played by Gary Sine, is an awesome character. His 360 degree turn through what life deals him is as inspirational as Forrest's. His character shows amazing depth and humanness. You see him at his best, at his worse and everywhere in between, but his last appearance at Forest’s late wedding to Jenny is quite touching and emotional. Much more is communicated in his demeanor than any words that are spoken. This is masterful acting.

The closing scene is the most memorable for me... the archetypical feather floats in a random breeze as Forrest muses about predestination vs random existence: " I think it's both... both happening at the same time." - which reveals that perhaps our beloved Forrest isn't quite as dumb as he's perceived to be by others.

Forrest Gump, with the powerful example of it’s main character’s simple, humble, well-lived life, is creative filmmaking at it’s very best.

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