Stephanie Jones
Mercy College of Health Sciences
Forest Gump Movie Analysis
Watching the movie Forest Gump for the first time, it was difficult to categorize. Was it a drama? Was it s Comedy? Was it a war film? Was it a historical film? It really fit into all of those categories. It was an unconventional film about the history of America over 30 years, seen through the eyes of a mentally challenged man with an IQ below 65. It was a modern fable, a dreamlike fairy tale, on how to live one’s own life to the fullest. The movie was enhanced greatly by the use of voice-over narration. Forrest (Tom Hanks) participated in the action of the story, but also acted as the narrator. In the background of the narration, soft music was playing at times. The movie Forrest Gump, was filled with much detailed, essential information and multiple twists. There was not a visual way through action to advance the plot or characters through action. Voice-over narration was used, which allowed me to go inside the experience of the characters. Much of the movie’s humor came from Forrest’s voice-over narration. The story was narrated from a bus-stop bench by Forrest. The narration was in a third-person view, with what sounded like an Alabama accent. Forest unwittingly simplified major historical events and sometimes got them wrong. An example was when Forrest described the Ku Klux Klan. He described how they would dress up in bed sheets and ride around on their horses, acting like a bunch of ghosts or spooks. The voice of Forrest had a neutral tone to it. It allowed me to see Forrest’s side, but also allowed me to draw my own opinion. There was a scene in the movie where Forrest breaks out of his leg braces as he ran away from a pack of bullies. Forrest was clear in his narration, and never lost focus despite the intense action taking place in the scene. There was another scene in the movie where
References: Passafiume, Andrea “Forrest Gump” No Date Listed http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/359270%7C0/Forrest-Gump.html