Movie Analysis Essay Sample: Forrest Gump

📌Category: Entertainment, Movies
📌Words: 810
📌Pages: 3
📌Published: 15 June 2022

Challenging Intelligence in one of Hollywood’s revolutionary films. Forrest Gump, a 1994 film directed by Robert Zemeckis starring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright distributed by Paramount Pictures, is merely a narration by mentally challenged Forrest in which he recites his story chronologically, oblivious to the measure of achievements he’d accomplished. Having met three presidents of the United States, inspired Elvis Presley’s infamous dance, fought bravely in Vietnam, and became a world star Ping-pong champ. In addition, being rendered as a witness to the Watergate scandal survived Hurricane Carmen, and owned Bubba Gump shrimp ensuing him to be a “gazillionaire”. Moreover, invested in Apple and ran for 3 years, 2 months, 14 days, and 16 hours. Having worn many shoes in his life, Innocent Forrest lost the few people he had along the way, except for Jenny. The sole reoccurring figure in his life made chaotic decisions that led to her leaving 4 times to, unbeknownst to Forrest, protect him from herself. After concluding his tale, He reveals to the invested strangers that his next destination is a reunion with Jenny. With a box of chocolate in hand, he runs into being enlightened about his son and her health. He vows to take care of them. But shortly after, Forrest loses the one thing he loved most but gains another. Although viewers might assume Forrest Gump is a superficial tale about an individual with a low IQ, the film is also a criticism of society’s obsession with intelligence and control by enacting a character’s success with inverse traits. 

Consideration and leniency aren’t what society’s renowned for, rather a reputation of cruelty. Permanently in need of excessive commands to keep its fragile balance stable. Carrying the name of the KKK founder consequently didn’t account for the finest start for Forrest. Likewise, an IQ of 75 pushed many doors out of his reach consequence of society’s stereotypical and confined perception of intelligence. Referring to Forrest as “Stupid” occurs 18 times in the film with “Stupid is as stupid does” being his response each time. And that is what he ascertained. Accomplishing what no other person could by using his “flaw” of giving up control to his advantage. In all his endeavors, he never gave much thought to anything, making society’s main concern his greatest strength. For instance, when prompted about his future after graduation, the puzzled expression evident on his face verified that. Merely obliging instruction is what sets him apart. Hence, why none of his ventures were ever premeditated and just happen to find him; Joining the army, catching shrimp, and even playing ping pong were all decisions crafted for him. The sole choice he made independently was to run, without it holding a deep-rooted significance, just simply for the sake of running. bewilderment was people’s thoughts on this notion. “They couldn’t believe someone would do all that running for no particular reason” Gump’s simple approach to life allowed him to decipher its complexities. And as he kept on running, people did what they do best and followed behind, with the need to find meaning in something meaningless.

Meaningful symbolism forms everywhere in existence. Throughout the whole of Forrest Gump, symbolic parallels criticizing society’s facade are traced with simple yet telling camerawork and editing. A barbershop, two people fishing, and a guy reading a newspaper are reoccurring scenes for the duration of the film, each time having a negative stance on Forrest’s actions. However, as time goes on the people in said scenes never seem to achieve anything, simply bound to the same condition for years while judging others’ expeditions. Thus, in an expose of their deception, Zemeckis uses Hank’s remarkable acting skills to portray the cell that most people have willingly put themselves in through blindly abiding by society without a second thought. Using Forrest’s characteristics and an extreme case of relinquishment to plea people to awaken out of captivity. 

By embodying the traits deemed unfit by society and succeeding anyways, Forrest Gump shows viewers how crippling the chains of society are. Therefore, encouraging people to surrender control to some extent to experience life through a new lens, a much freer lens. Destiny is a debate in the film, whether you make it, or it’s made for you, Forrest demonstrates that battling for absolute control is not, and will never be, a factor of your triumph against destiny. It is the biggest held back that stands between people and their dreams. Hence, being consumed by the urge to control robs you away from relishing life’s beauty. Never appreciating “the stars in Vietnam after 4 months of rain”, “the sun going to bed on the bayou”, or “the clear mountain lake sky” Forrest Gump is screening the remedy to the deadliest pandemic that will wipe out humanity if ignored.

In conclusion, Forrest Gump is more than just a tale for entertainment. It is a proposition to evaluate our ways of living. Viewing control as a need will halt one’s growth, leaving no room for development, and strip them from finding pleasure in the small details. Forrest’s life is a fairytale that we should admire and apply to our reality rationally. Nonetheless, the excessive approach used by Zemeckis only serves to illustrate the urgency in which humanity needs a change of action before it is futile.

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