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Forrest Gump (1994)

Director: Robert Zemeckis

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13 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Played by Hanks with a sing-song Southern drawl and an evangelical earnestness, Gump is the quintessential simpleton, his only characteristic the inert righteousness instilled in him by his mama (Field). Gump's story is as extraordinary as he is banal. He conducts us on what amounts to a virtual-reality tour of late twentieth century American history. Beneath its baby-boomer soundtrack, its restive feel-good aesthetic and conventional liberal veneer, this is a dismayingly reactionary work. Consider Forrest's one true love, Jenny (Wright), a 'nice' girl who takes a wrong turn when she abandons home for showbusiness. Throughout director Zemeckis contrasts Gump's charmed progress with Jenny's unhappy engagement with the counter culture. It's only when she's dying that Jenny realises she should have stayed with Forrest all along. He's asexual, square and a tedious conversationalist, but God knows he loves his mother - as this mawkish conservative movie ultimately goes to prove: ignorance is bliss. Winner of a raft of Oscars.

Author: TCh 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

David said...

Posted on Jun 27 2009 21:05 Slightly over sentimental, but still brilliant after all these years. I'm from the UK so have no real insight into what other people are arguing about, but I thought the period of American history covered in the film was conveyed really well. The film does not contain the blank or cruel cynicism that seems to substitute as a moral compass for movie makers nowadays. What it does contain is tear jerking romance, exciting action scenes, comedy and deep insight into the human condition. Not stupid at all.

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Marcus said...

Posted on Jun 21 2009 20:03 Interesting libs have to invoke the tax-CUTTING JFK, welfare SIGNING Bill Clinton, and REPUBLICANS Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt as their great "liberal" presidents! If liberalism is such a great platform, I would think all our presidents would be ONLY liberal.

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joethehandyman said...

Posted on Feb 25 2009 09:45 "When there have been about, hmm lets see 0 good liberal presidents." yes, James, let us see...first off, there's FDR--kinda hard to forget since he was president FOREVER. then there's JFK, Clinton (a liberal for his era), and even Teddy Roosevelt, whose positions on many issues would also qualify him as a lib today. So 4 of the 5 most beloved presidents of the 20th century were liberals. at least you didn't use a negative number.

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james said...

Posted on Feb 23 2009 21:39 Oh no you called me dumb! You are truly a great debater. Were you in that Great Debaters movie? You clearly pointed out all the flaws in my argument...oh no wait you didn't. See all you can say is I have a lack of capitalization. This isn't a doctoral dissertation, this is a movie review website. So pretty much you are sitting there dumbfounded and speechless, grouping for something, anything you can use against me. And guess what, you found nothing. Now scurry on home, cry, and watch clips of your favorite Obama speeches. When you have anything of substance to say I will be here, ready to respond. Until then, God bless.

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ZGDK said...

Posted on Feb 23 2009 21:28 Your blatant one sided argument and lack of capitalization makes you look dumb.

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James said...

Posted on Feb 22 2009 17:59 Oh no wait i got it. Jefferson was liberal because he cut so many taxes. Oh no wait, you're still dumb.

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James said...

Posted on Feb 22 2009 15:28 I believe with Reagan you are referring to the Iran Contra affair. One he was acquitted of having anything to do with. Besides that he ended the Cold War, saved Jimmy Carter's abomination of an economy, had the largest election victory of all time, created 16 million jobs, and had Nobel prize winning economists such as MIlton Friedman and Robert Mundell singing him praises. But besides that he was awful.

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james said...

Posted on Feb 22 2009 15:08 Haha Jefferson liberal? is it his opposition to gun control or his hatred of big government that makes him liberal? Oh no wait, that would make him conservative. Oh no I got it, it was his opposition to a national bank that made him liberal. Oh no wait, still Republican. People who posted after me, please read a history book before you even attempt talking to me. And Jimmy it's funny, because your ignorance makes ME laugh.

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ZGDK said...

Posted on Feb 21 2009 23:07 Reagan is easily one of our shadiest and most corrupted presidents, and by the way Jefferson was quite liberal. Now as a liberal myself I see nothing conservative about Forrest Gump, as Tom Hanks said it's non-political so it's non-judgemental.

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Jimmy said...

Posted on Dec 30 2008 06:29 I'm laughing hard at James. Lincoln and Jefferson...conservatives? Don't make me laugh with your ignorance.

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James said...

Posted on Dec 26 2008 23:43 American flag waving trash? That's nice, I mean it's not like America has the highest GDP and strongest military, because that would be something to be proud of. Oh wait, it does. And as for pairing ignorance is bliss with conservatives, well, tell that to Lincoln, Jefferson, Reagan, and the slew of other great conservative presidents. When there have been about, hmm lets see 0 good liberal presidents.

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terry gorman said...

Posted on May 08 2008 02:19 Best film of all time? American flag waving trash, and stultifyingly boring and stupid to boot. I've despised Tom Hanks ever since suffering through this piece of crap.

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Sam said...

Posted on Oct 12 2007 23:17 Best film of all time!

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