3. Forrest Gump (1994)Starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright Penn, Gary Sinise, Sally Field
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
There are very few movies, especially non-action movies, that can hold your full attention for 2 hours and 20 minutes, while at the same time, make you laugh, cry and smile numerous times through the movie. There also very few movies that are written and acted as well as this one.
I was just a wee 8 years old when this movie came out and if I remember right, I saw it in theaters with my family. And despite the graphic nature of some parts, I don't think there is any part of my parents that regret taking me to see it at that age. It was just one of those movies with such a strong message, not to mention it was a great U.S. history lesson.
The movie begins and ends with just your love of the main character Forrest Gump. I don't see how you can't enjoy his character. He's a true underdog from the start with a kind heart, absolute innocence and a little bit of stupidity. But as the years go on, he goes from underdog to one of the guys to genuine hero. But what never leaves him is that kind heart, innocence and yes, the stupidity.
As you can see in that clip, this movie does an amazing job adding Forrest into historical scenes. It may not seem like much but it's cool to see things like that, especially as a young kid who doesn't know any better.
I think one thing people don't know is that Forrest Gump is slightly based off a true story. Well, at least parts of it. For instance, the scene where he gets shot while trying to save Bubba in Vietnam is true. I know this because the guy actually came to my first news station and did an interview.
But anyways, back to the movie. Another thing I love about this movie are the relationships Forrest has with various people. There's the one with his mom, the woman he reveres so much and quotes constantly even as he grows older. There is his friendship with Bubba, one struck by happenstance on a bus. It's a friendship so loyal that he not only risks his own life to save Bubba's but also takes on Bubba's lifelong dream of being a shrimp boat captain and when successful doing it, makes sure he gives money to Bubba's family. There's also his relationship with Lieutenant Dan. It starts rocky as one might expect with a commanding officer but the respect Lt. Dan gains for Forrest after he saves his life and subsequently takes on Bubba's dream is a great sight to see.
But the relationship that the whole movie seems to really focus on from beginning to end is Forrest's love for his childhood friend Jenny. She doesn't live the American dream sort of life and many times, seems to be the complete wrong fit for a clean cut guy like Forrest. But thanks to a great screenplay, you find yourself rooting for the two to work the entire time, even as it seems like her life is flying off the rails.
Simply put,this movie is maybe the ONLY movie that no matter what I'm doing, I stop and watch the rest of it. I've said that about other movies on this list but I know for a fact, this is the one where I have lost many a minutes and hours of studying in college watching. And I don't mind that one bit.
There is a reason this movie won the Oscar for Best Picture (over the likes of Shawshank Redemption and Pulp Fiction) and Tom Hanks won Best Actor. It's because this movie is about as flawless as any movie can be when it comes to entertaining an audience from start to finish.
TRAILER
NOTABLE QUOTES
Forrest Gump: "My momma always said, "Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."
Forrest Gump: "And cause I was a gazillionaire, and I liked doin it so much, I cut that grass for free."
Bubba: "Anyway, like I was sayin', shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that's about it."
FUN FACTS
Bill Murray, John Travolta and Chevy Chase turned down the role of Forrest Gump. Travolta later admitted that passing on the role was a mistake.
David Alan Grier, Ice Cube and Dave Chappelle turned down the role of Bubba. Chappelle thought the movie would bomb, and has since admitted to deeply regretting not taking the role.
In the 1988 movie Punchline, Sally Field plays a love interest for Tom Hanks's character; in this movie, released six years later, she plays his character's mother.
TEASE FOR #2
The movie that no one besides a couple people know I even like. It stars one of the worst actors of our time and is a sports-ish movie, two things that normally don't mix but in this case, it does.
