I’ve never understood the criticism levied against Forrest Gump, it isn’t promoting the message that stupidity is somehow redemption nor does it handle the character of Jenny with kids gloves. Forrest is stupid because he is stupid and because that allows him to be an impartial observer to the American history taking place around him. Jenny is put through the ringer, she is offered no sympathy from the screenplay or from Robert Zemeckis, at every turn she is painted as a misguided and ultimately destructive individual. She does get some small redemption at the end, but it’s important to note that just like every other character her redemption is tied into Forrest.
I don’t have a problem with the film’s view of America, and it pulls no punches in the darkness of its vision. The film is rated PG-13, but with drug use, war violence, premature ejaculation, nudity (including pubic hair) it’s one of the most adult films with such a rating. The schmaltzy reputation started when it was pitted against Pulp Fiction at the Academy Awards and it’s only overrated because it won.
With proper respect to Back to the Future, Robert Zemeckis’ direction here is leaps and bounds better. Telling a story that spans decades, has no clear goal or bad guy, and demands the ability to balance actors and technical craft equally, Zemeckis could have stumbled over the complex story’s numerous trouble areas. Instead he soars, seemingly one-upping every sequence with scope, beautiful camerawork, humor and heart. The film is a gorgeously polished crown, made up of a series of flawless jewels.
Tom Hanks is one of cinemas greatest stars, but amongst all his fine work, Forrest Gump remains his most indelible role. He pitches the characters intelligence at the perfect spot on the I.Q. chart and never has to play dumber or smarter than that. He is direct in a manner that is sometimes humorous and always respectable. The moment when he finds out about his son, and has trouble asking if he’s slow too. chokes me up every time. If Jenny was the lead the film would be an Iñárritu. Zemeckis doesn’t sugar coat her life story, and I love how the script never directly states her relationship with Forrest; how she thinks he doesn’t understand love, but we know that it’s her whose definition has been twisted. One of my favorite scenes is when Forrest and Jenny are walking and come up to Jenny’s old house. “Sometimes, I guess there just aren’t enough rocks.” The Jenny scenes made me tear up quite a few times.
Over the years for one reason or another people have begun to turn against Forrest Gump, taking it out of classic status and into more of an overrated status. I don’t understand that, doubt I ever will.
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