FORREST GUMP
A film review by John M. Bozeman
Copyright 1994 John M. Bozeman
In general, I tend to avoid plays and movies that I think will be sappy and/or overly sentimental--not because I have an intrinsic dislike for them, but because they are such a hit-or-miss affair. A good production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN left me misty-eyed. A STAR IS BORN had me wishing that the guy had killed himself a lot sooner than he did. Thus, it was with much reluctance that I went to see FORREST GUMP. I must say, however, that I was most pleasantly surprised by what I found.
Forest Gump is a man with not particularly bright prospects. Born in rural Alabama, he has a curved spine and a low IQ. He does have a few things going for him, though: a resourceful mother (Sally Field) who loves him, one friend who helps him through school, a good heart, and a lot of luck. Running from bullies allows him to discover a talents that carry him though college and the army and eventually to run a successful business.
But, as the cliche goes, arrival at the destination is not as important is the journey. Gump wears many hats along the way to his destiny, and his simple, direct approach to life is usually a blessing to those around him. Indeed, while a lot has been said about the film's spectacular special effects, these are overshadowed by the sheer humanity of the story. The plot itself is not terribly original (boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-becomes-famous-and-maybe-gets-girl) and the underlying theme (do your job, work hard, be yourself, and you will do well) is rather conservative. Instead the movie is successful through old-fashioned cinematic virtues such as characterization, pacing, and irony. Gump, brilliantly played by Tom Hanks, allows us to perceive our world through the eyes of a simpleton, and thus see how funny--and how stupid, and how sad, and occasionally how heroic--people can be. The result is a film that is sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but always engrossing.
Overall rating: A (worth seeing even at full price)
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