Forrest Gump

1994

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Distributor: Paramount Pictures

Key Elements: Story – Characters – Lines – Music – Symbolism – Message

My Review:

The popularity of this movie is due largely to the fact that it tells the shared stories of it’s target audience – those who went through the major events of the sixties. The magic of it is that the most unlikely person, a slow and unassuming southern boy, is a single character that linking all these events together.

What I love about this movie though, isn’t so much that this antihero finds himself consistently in the most socially meaningful settings, but that he sees them all with eyes different from our own. The scene where he tells Jenny that she’s been with him his whole life shows us some of the most beautiful scenic shots in any movie.

The real question the movie asks through it all is - what is life like? Do we have a destiny of are we just floating. I think Gump has it right when he says that maybe it’s both. God is looking out for us and has a plan for our lives. At the same time, our lives are what we make of them. We can hate ourselves and our situation, or we can look at what’s around us and see the beauty that fills every moment of the world.

My favorite scene is when Gump meets his son and his first question is – Is he smart? Such incredible vulnerability just grabs you.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• My momma always said, "Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."
• What's normal anyways?
• He should not be hitting you, Jenny.
• Stupid is as stupid does.
• It's funny Lieutenant Dan said that, 'cause right then, God showed up.
• Sometimes, I guess there's just not enough rocks.
• Why don't you love me, Jenny? I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is.
• I'm pretty tired... I think I'll go home now.
• Mama always said: dying was a part of life.
• Jenny, I don't know if Momma was right or if, if it's Lieutenant Dan. I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it's both. Maybe both is happening at the same time. I miss you, Jenny.
• I just wanted to tell you I love you.
• That's all I have to say about that.

Stills:

Cast Away

2000

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Composer: Alan Silvestri

Distributor: Fox Movies / Dreamworks

KeyElements: Concept – Visuals - Music

My Review:

I heard Hanks say in an interview that the concept driving this movie was to give a realistic portrayal of being “shipwrecked.” We have plenty of romanticize tales of such things happening – Robinson Crusoe, Swiss Family Robinson, Gilligan’s Island. But the truth is that it would be a horrible experience. He lets us get a glimpse of that experience here.

While the driving concept is interesting enough, the message that comes across is what I really love about the movie. We see a man, stripped of everything for years, reintroduced to modern society. The things he missed most were basic necessities and people. He loves that he now has ice in his glass and bottled water at his disposal. And he loves that he gets to see Kelly again, even though he can’t have her.

We are surrounded by blessings and by beautiful people. I wonder how often we take that for granted. This movie made me consider just how good I really have it.

My favorite part of the movie comes, however at the end. We find Chuck at a crossroads in the middle of open country. He has nothing with him but what he needs, and no plans except to see what life brings him next. I found myself envying his freedom.

A couple last notes: The music by Alan Silvestri was beautiful. And the plane crash scene was intense. Excellently done.


Trailer:



Quotes:

• The most beautiful thing in the world is, of course, the world itself.
• I'll be right back.
• Hello! Anybody?
• If I'm here New Years Eve, then I'm here. If I'm not, I'm not.
• I added it up, and knew that I had... lost her. Because I was never going to get off that island. I was going to die there, totally alone. I was going to get sick, or get injured or something. The only choice I had, the only thing I could control was when, and how, and where it was going to happen. So... I made a rope and I went up to the summit, to hang myself. I had to test it, you know? Of course. You know me. And the weight of the log, snapped the limb of the tree, so I-I - , I couldn't even kill myself the way I wanted to. I had power over nothing. And that's when this feeling came over me like a warm blanket. I knew, somehow, that I had to stay alive. Somehow. I had to keep breathing. Even though there was no reason to hope. And all my logic said that I would never see this place again. So that's what I did. I stayed alive. I kept breathing. And one day my logic was proven all wrong because the tide came in, and gave me a sail. And now, here I am. I'm back. In Memphis, talking to you. I have ice in my glass... And I've lost her all over again. I'm so sad that I don't have Kelly. But I'm so grateful that she was with me on that island. And I know what I have to do now. I got to keep breathing. Because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?
• You look lost.
  - I do?
  Where're you headed?
  - Well, I was just about to figure that out.

Stills:

Back to the Future III

1990

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Distributor: Universal Pictures

Key Elements: Characters, Visuals, Story, Message

My Review:

The conclusion of the further mind-bending story. In it, Marty learns that pride can lead to downfall and instead accepts restraint as the nobler course.

Doc gives us an existential truth: our lives are what we make them.

Bonus points for the Fistful of Dollars reference.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• Well, there are plenty worse places to be than the Old West. I could've ended up in the Dark Ages. They probably would have burned me at the stake as a heretic or something.
• It was the writings of Jules Verne that had a profound effect on my life. I was 11 when I first read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. That's when I realized that I must devote my life to science.
• It means your future hasn't been written yet. No one's has. Your future is whatever you make it. So make it a good one, both of you.

Stills:

Back to the Future II

1989

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Distributor: Universal Pictures

Key Elements: Characters, Visuals, Story

My Review:

A visually amazing continuation of a mind-bending story.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• The encounter could create a time paradox, the results of which could start a chain reaction that would unravel the very fabric of the space time continuum, and destroy the entire universe! Granted, that's a worse case scenario.
• Time-traveling is just too dangerous. Better that I devote myself to study the other great mystery of the universe: women!

Stills:

Back to the Future

1985

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Composer: Hughie Lewis and the News

Distributor: Universal Pictures

Key Elements: Characters, Visuals, Story, Music

My Review:

A Classic!

Great music. Great lines. Great characters. From the moment Marty stumbles into his home town circa 1955 and “Mr. Sandman” starts playing, this movie takes us back to a simpler time. And through his one-of-a-kind adventure, Marty learns to have confidence and not doubt himself.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• History is gonna change.
• Are you telling me you built a time machine... out of the DeLorean?
• If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits eighty-eight miles per hour... you're gonna see some serious shit.
• Stand tall, boy. Have some respect for yourself. Don't you know if you let people walk over you now, they'll be walking over you for the rest of your life!
• If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.

Stills: