FORREST GUMP (1994): A One-of-a-Kind Acclaimed Oscar Winning Film Celebrates its 30th Anniversary

Academy Award Winning Film Forrest Gump Turns 30

Tom Hanks won the Best Actor Oscar for playing the title character in Robert Zemeckis‘ acclaimed, Forrest Gump, which celebrates the 30th anniversary of its release today.

Tom Hanks was perfect in the role of a lifetime in Robert Zemeckis’ 1994 Best Picture Oscar-winner, Forrest Gump. This film was loved by both audiences and critics alike. It earned $330 million domestically and another $347 million internationally as well as a coveted “A+” CinemaScore grade. 1994 saw the release of The Lion King, Pulp Fiction and The Shawshank Redemption. It was Forrest Gump, however, that emerged as the movie of the year with Oscar voters when the Best Picture winner was revealed. Keep in mind, The Lion King wasn’t even nominated though there were only five Best Picture film nominees back then. 30 years later, the epic feel of Forrest Gump still remains and the movie only improves with age.

“Mama always said, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get’.” Sally Field played “Mama” in the 1994 Tom Hanks renowned box-office smash. Audiences never quite knew what they were going to get from scene-to-scene in the moving, occasionally frustrating Oscar-winning film. From the opening scenes, you’d never expect the forceful performance by Gary Sinise (as Lt. Dan) to arrive in the picture but when it did, there were powerful moments within the picture, to be certain. Let’s not forget the soundtrack which showcased Alan Silvestri’s emotional score and was peppered with memorable tunes like “Go Your Own Way” and “Against the Wind.”

A simple feather blowing in the wind opens and closes the film. The 1994 gem of a screenplay centers its love story on Forrest and Jenny (Robin Wright) who were like peas and carrots and knew each other when they were young. Zemeckis leads us on a journey through their emotionally draining relationship which concludes with her death and Forrest taking over the responsibilities of raising their young son. Hanks and Wright are teaming up for an upcoming movie called Here which will be released some 30 years after Forrest Gump.

When I first saw Forrest Gump, it was an experience like no other. It was just as frustrating as it was entertaining and thought-provoking. The fact that the script initially seemed exaggerated was overcome by the feeling that Forrest Gump, as a character, was ultimately just like you and me despite his disabilities. His pains, passions, joys, laughs and tribulations were so well-realized on-screen that the film will easily live on forever as a piece of cinematic brilliance that certainly deserved the praise it received. Look for Hanks and Wright to be back together in the movie Here which opens later on this year for Thanksgiving.

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