Are movies really timeless? In fifty years, will "Citizen Kane" still be considered the greatest movie ever? Only time will tell, but I would be willing to make the prediction that 1994's "Forrest Gump" will only grow in people's opinions as time goes on.The movie is seen as overly sentimental nowadays, and I can understand that. But that doesn't stop me from saying "That is a good movie" every time I watch it all the way through.
If you don't know the story by now, you probably never will. A less-than-ordinary man from the fictional Greenbow, Alabama, lives an absolutely extraordinary life, weaving in and out of pop cultural and historical events.
What I noticed this time around was Forrest's amazingly simple, determined focus about some things. Because of his dimness, he only has the ability to see one way of doing things -- a quality we should admire in this high-paced, busy world of ours. When his army buddy teaches him how to play ping-pong, he only tells him one rule: "Always keep your eye on the ball." And that's just what Forrest does, and it turns out that that is the key to the game. Unlike other, admittedly smarter, individuals, he is not distracted by the outside world. He sees only himself and the ball, which is all that really matters when it comes to ping-pong.
More than any other time I've watched this movie was the character of Jenny. While I have usually just brushed her off as a good-for-nothing hippie who wasn't good enough for Forrest, I really enjoyed the way her character popped up at the most fitting times of the movie -- every time there was a time to breathe, a time for quiet reflection, Forrest would mention Jenny. I loved that.
More than any other time I've watched this movie was the character of Jenny. While I have usually just brushed her off as a good-for-nothing hippie who wasn't good enough for Forrest, I really enjoyed the way her character popped up at the most fitting times of the movie -- every time there was a time to breathe, a time for quiet reflection, Forrest would mention Jenny. I loved that.
Forrest's ability to cope is also astounding. Perhaps it's because of his dim-witted nature, but it seems like nothing really gets to him. Contrast this with Lieutenant Dan and Jenny, who can't seem to catch a break and go about in pity for themselves. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, Forrest just runs when he's at his lowest point -- why not?
The movie isn't outstandingly well-directed or well acted (except for Tom Hanks, of course, who is genius in everything) or anything technical like that. But every part of the movie is good enough to make for a truly great movie that I'm sure will be higher than #76 if this list is redone anytime in the future.
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