1994 In Film: Forrest Gump

It seems unpopular now to lay praise on Forrest Gump. It’s old fashioned, sentimental, politically confused at times, and overall unremarkable when compared to other films of that year. Yet when it was released, you could not escape the film. The catchphrases like “Life is like a box of chocolates” or “stupid is as stupid does” found their way into the cinematic lexicon, and annoying or not, are embedded into 90s pop-culture.

However, history has not been kind to innocent, naive Forrest, who was named after the founder of the KKK, General Nathan Bedford Forrest (A real historical person sooo….YIKES). Over the years, a Forrest Gump revision has taken place which has deemed it an overrated piece of schmaltzy Americana. Thus looking diminished in the eyes of the critical public. Revisiting the film again, I was all ready to join the tribe of haters, until something unexpected happened… I kinda really liked it.

Now keep in mind, this is not a “well actually Forrest Gump is a masterpiece” article, as I’m well aware of the film’s glaring flaws – which I intend to address. However, looking at the film as it is, one can see the power in its simplicity as it brings a message of love, honor, and decency to the forefront. Forrest Gump is a sweet movie with a big heart, and perhaps the filmmakers themselves were too naive to address the inherent flaws of the film. But it didn’t stop them from driving home a hopeful universal message that for a time made Forrest a cinematic icon.

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For those who may be unfamiliar, Forrest Gump tells the story of a low IQ southern man named Forrest (Tom Hanks), as he recounts the events of his life to various people who sit next to him at a bus stop. As a child Forrest grows up in Alabama with his Mama (Sally Field), who gives him sage advice such as the aforementioned “Life is like a box of chocolates”. Throughout his young age, we see Forrest overcoming personal struggles, such as having leg braces and being picked on by local bullies. Yet his penchant for perseverance leaves him unphased by his shortcomings.

Later Forrest befriends a young girl named Jenny, who as an adult is played by Robin Wright. Jenny is his childhood sweetheart, who he never stops loving. However, she has her own personal demons, from being molested and abused by her alcoholic father. She becomes Forrest’s one true friend, and their relationship and bond form the heart of the story.

Later on, we see Forrest going to college due to the fact that he can run really fast, giving him a scholarship to play football. Although he doesn’t understand the game, he just runs when the coach tells him to. After college he joins the army and is sent to Vietnam. It’s here he meets two prominent people in his life, his best friend Bubba (Mykelti Williamson), and his commanding officer Lieutenant. Dan (Gary Sinise).

Meanwhile Jenny falls into a life of counter culture, drugs, and abusive boyfriends. Her wavering character is somewhat of a cliche, but Wright is able to humanize Jenny in such unsuspecting ways. She becomes the film’s secret weapon and helps us understand her journey. Occasionally Forrest and Jenny’s lives intersect, and we see the love he is willing to give her, yet she struggles to let go of the past and therefore is unable to love herself or anyone else.

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Forrest meanwhile continues to find success as he follows his loyal instincts and inherent goodness, to the next adventure he finds himself in. This also relates to the film’s major conceit which is showing him interacting with famous historical moments or figures of the time. This was done by imposing Hanks mostly with archival footage of news events. Which admittedly looks primitive to today’s standards of special effects.

We see him in scenes together with the likes of Elvis Presely, John F. Kennedy, and John Lennon. While later it is implied that his actions are directly linked to almost anything from the Watergate break-ins, to the “have a nice day” t-shirts. Forrest always unknowingly falls into success, yet his heart is preoccupied with those he loves.

Tom Hanks is simply a marvel as Forrest, and the film would not have been as successful without him. It’s easy to take an actor like Hanks for granted, since his characters feel so effortless, it seems like he’s just playing himself. With Forrest, he attains that same kind of naturalism and sensitivity, yet he’s able to convey so much with fairly minimal expressions. Forrest isn’t seen as very bright, yet Hanks does convey the character’s own intelligence and feelings. His wisdom comes from his unconditional decency and forthrightness. He is not a passive character, rather he acts on instinct and is living in the moment. His lack of intelligence works as his benefit in that he never has to overthink things.

The character of Forrest has been long criticized as a complacent person who does what he is told, and finds success in doing so. Rather I found him to be more of a zen figure who is shown pondering and thinking his way through things. He acts when it comes to the people he cares about like Jenny, Bubba, and his mother. Furthermore, his actions are never for himself, as he is shown as a selfless person without prejudice. In this way his character is much more complex and interesting than usually given credit for.

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The film, as directed by Robert Zemeckis, works as an efficient marvel at storytelling. While it clocks in at nearly two and a half hours, Zemeckis moves it along at a brisk pace, going from one adventure to the next with the ease of a seasoned professional. It also works as a technical marvel weaving in special effects that still look impressive today. Such as recreating a massive rally at the Washington Monument, or seamlessly removing the legs of Gary Sinise when Lieutenant Dan loses them after being injured in Vietnam.

There is a simplicity to Zemeckis’ craft and the story itself which can forgive the film’s glaring historical omissions. While I believe it is the intent of the film to remain apolitical, it does open itself up for some problematic issues. The most offensive might be that the film is based mostly in the deep south during the segregation and civil rights movement. Forrest’s mother, (who named him after the KKK founder) is seen with a maid named Louise (Margo Moorer), who more or less stays in the background throughout the film.

Bubba is seen more or less as Forrest’s sidekick through Vietnam, but even what happens to him feels more or less like an old movie cliche. The film does pay lip service to segregation by implanting Forrest in an old newsreel involving Governor George Wallace’s protest against allowing black students into Alabama University. The film never does comment on it specifically, save for a brief moment where Forrest hands a notebook to one of the students (gee I guess he’s not racist). The film also deals with much of the moment’s politics in broad strokes. Thus giving cringe worthy depictions of The Black Panthers, hippies, and protesters, which feel inauthentic and insincere.

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Then there is also the problem of what happens to Jenny at the end of the film. It is a rather manipulative turn from the screenwriters to evoke sentimental emotion. Jenny’s arc feels just as important as Forrest’s in some ways, and if it weren’t for Wright’s sheer dedication, it would come off as glib.

Still, the film could be forgiven for its shortcomings because it never tries to deal with these issues head-on. They are more or less seen as a travelogue, containing as much depth as one might find in a brochure for the 1960s. Forrest Gump succeeds because of its character’s reliance to wear his heart on his sleeve.

When people often talk of worst Best Picture winners, Forrest Gump is usually around there. Not as low as Crash, but maybe on the cusp of, say, Dances with Wolves (another movie I kinda like). There were movies more worthy of the Best Picture crown that year, yet it’s difficult to argue against Hanks.

Had it not become the juggernaut it was, people might be more forgiving towards it. It has all the earmarks of being “a feel-good movie”. It’s funny, sweet, and warm. You leave the film drenched in its spell, even if the manipulative storytelling is prevalent throughout. Sometimes with a movie you don’t mind the manipulation. With Forrest Gump, I didn’t mind.