The name of the film “Forrest Gump” can be found in many lists of the best films, and its reviews are often controversial, even though most of them are positive. An article published in “The Hollywood Reporter” is one of the examples. It describes the protagonist as a wise man, even though he can seem innocent and even a bit silly. Besides, he attracts spectators, according to THR staff, “he sees the world far clearer than most” (THR Staff, 2017, par. 2). They also tell about Jenny and state that spectators can see themselves in her behavior and principles. Thus, the authors of the article describe the main characters of the movie and show their positive sides.
Svetkey wrote another positive review in 2015 in the BBC magazine. The author states that everyone can learn something from the movie. He notes that “twenty-one years after its release, the film is still touching audiences, still being quoted (“Stupid is as stupid does”), still irritating critics” (par. 7). However, Svetkey marks the ambiguity of the movie because, on the one hand, it is very touching and charming, but on the other hand, it does not follow many film-making principles.
However, not all critics speak positively about this film. For example, Kohn states that it “has the eerie aura of a science fiction movie, with its wandering central figure coming across like an alien” (par. 12). According to his review, the movie has many shortcomings: the image of the protagonist, description of the situation in the country, and other incorrect or strange details. Even despite the popularity of the film, the critic disputes the majority opinion and notes its negative aspects.
Works Cited
Kohn, Eric. “Forrest Gump, 25 Years Later: A Bad Movie That Gets Worse With Age.” Review of Forrest Gump, directed by Robert Zemeckis. IndieWire, 2019. Web.
Svetkey, Ben. “Why I Love Forrest Gump.” Review of Forrest Gump, directed by Robert Zemeckis. BBC, 2015. Web.
THR Staff. “’Forrest Gump’: THR’s 1994 Review.” Review of Forrest Gump, directed by Robert Zemeckis. The Hollywood Reporter, 2017. Web.