HOT: Forrest Gump

Here we reach the second of Tom Hanks' Academy Award wins in the lead actor category. Unlike Philadelphia this one I have seen a ton of times - including in the theater.

The story of Forrest Gump is an incredible story of a man named Forrest (Hanks), who has an IQ of less than average, but leads the most fascinating life.

While he was young he was picked on a ton by the other children in school due to his lack of intelligence and because he had to wear leg braces to straighten out his spine. He was rescued on a number of occasions by a girl in school named Jenny (Robin Wright) and the two of them become very good friends - Forrest quickly falls in love with her and she becomes the only girl for him.

As they grow up Forrest and Jenny's lives go in completely different directions. As Forrest is running away from bullies one day he is discovered by a football coach and he uses his ability to return kicks and gains a scholarship to Alabama.

He uses the scholarship to gain a degree and after college is given a pamphlet to join the Army, and he does.

Jenny meanwhile starts at an all-girls college near Forrest at Alabama, but eventually she gets mixed up in some odd situations - most likely due to the trauma she received from her father when she was a child. Forrest does all he can to protect her when he is around, but she pushes him away each time he does.

In the Army, Forrest heads to Vietnam and becomes best friends with Bubba (Mykelti Williamson), a man from Louisiana who wants to be a shrimp boat captain. He is led in the Army by Lt. Dan (Gary Sinise), whose entire family (at least the men) have been killed during wars - and he is looking to take his place among them. Unfortunately, Forrest saves his life and takes that away from him - and he loses his legs in the process.

Basically to sum up, Forrest Gump, despite his limitations, made the most out of his life and was never held back. He used his speed to go to college, he received a purple heart in the Army, he met numerous presidents, started a great business and helped many people out along the way with his strong heart.

The entire film is told through a flashback as Forrest sits on a bench waiting for a bus. He tells his story to the people that come and sit next to him - all because a nurse has a new pair of shoes. The only part of the film not in flashback is the glimpses of Forrest telling the story - and the end as he is on his way to see Jenny and make a remarkable discovery.

Though the film is rather long, it is an incredible story and very fun to watch. Great to see the many different things that happen to Forrest, most of which happen by chance, including him having a hand in many different historical events.

Hanks was top-notch as always. I also really enjoyed Williamson as Bubba and Sinise as Lt. Dan. I am still on the fence about Wright's performance. There were some parts of the film where I really enjoyed her and others where she really didn't seem up to par with Hanks' performance.

Grade:

Top 10: Tom Hanks Roles

Alright, I figured it out. I have decided to do a Top 10 list about my all-time favorite actor, Tom Hanks. I pretty much like all of Mr. Hanks' work, although he has had a few duds in the mix. So, getting just 10 characters was a bit difficult. But, I did do it.

When I wrote down the characters he has played I actually came out with 12 that were my favorites, so I have to give Lawrence Whatley Bourne III from Volunteers and Scott Turner from Turner & Hooch an honorable mention.

So here is the list (reverse order as always):

10) Robert Langdon - Da Vinci Code

Synopsis: Based on the best-selling novel, Hanks takes over as Dr. Robert Langdon, a symbologist who is called into action of tracking down hidden clues inside Leonardo Da Vinci's paintings.

9) Jim Lovell - Apollo 13

Synopsis: Lovell is named captain of the Apollo 13 moon mission, and along with two other astronauts, will be one of the first few people on the moon. An explosion within the shuttle, however, makes this mission into a rescue mission.

8) Carl Hanratty - Catch Me If You Can

Synopsis: Hanratty is the main investigator in catching the con man Frank Abagnale Jr. During his pursuit he sort of develops a relationship with the young man - as sort of a father figure.

7) Chuck Noland - Cast Away

Synopsis: In one of Hanks' most brilliant performances, Noland is stranded on a remote island after a plane accident. For 2/3's of the movie, Hanks is forced to keep the audience interested with only his actions and his interactions with a volleyball named Wilson.

6) Mr. White - That Thing You Do

Synopsis: Mr. White of PlayTone Music is the new manager of The Wonders, whose hit single "That Things You Do" is climbing up the charts. But, friction between the band members soon puts an end to the magical run and the band becomes a one-hit wonder.

5) Josh Baskin - Big

Synopsis: The movie that really moved Hanks into the mainstream. Hanks plays Baskin, a 12-year old boy looking to grow up a little too fast. Making a wish on a Zoltar Machine, Baskin wakes up as an adult and is forced to figure things out on his own.

4) Forrest Gump - Forrest Gump

Synopsis: Easily one of the most quotable movies of Hanks' career. Hanks plays Gump, a man with a well-below average IQ, but even with his lack of smarts, Gump lives an extraordinary life and meets many fascinating people along the way.

3) Jimmy Dugan - A League of Their Own

Synopsis: Dugan is a retired baseball player, who during his prime was one of the greatest hitters of all-time. Drinking, however, got in the way of his playing career and he is given the chance to manage the Rockford Peaches of the All-American Baseball League - a woman's league. But it could very well be the best thing that ever happened to him.

2) Capt. John Miller - Saving Private Ryan

Synopsis: Hanks plays Miller, a school teacher who is in charge of men's lives during World War II. He is given the assignment of tracking down Private Ryan, whose three bothers had already been killed in the war. It's a gripping tale and one of the most realistic (so I'm told) war movies ever created.

1) Sheriff Woody - Toy Story

Synopsis: As stunning a career as Tom Hanks the actor has had, it's his voice work that has truly made the biggest splash. Hanks lends his voice to Woody, the jealous cowboy doll, in Toy Story. Which, along with being the first all-computer generated film in history, is also one of the best all-around movies.