Forrest Gump

“Life is like a box of chocolates… you never know what you’re gonna get”. These immortal lines have been repeated and imitated the world over, but their timeless relevance still resounds.

In this touching, thought-provoking comedy, Tom Hanks plays the gentle Forrest whose quiet journey through life shows us how just like chocolate, life can be both sweet and bitter. We see him encountering all sorts of challenges and our hearts cannot help but melt a little as this “local idiot” finds his way in a confusing and sometimes frightening world. This is because Forrest Gump (the film as well as the character) is special. He is different. He is confused, bewildered and child-like, but we can all see a part of ourselves in his naivety. We feel the ache of his helplessness and we savour his successes.

Have a tissue at the ready as you experience a film that demonstrates the various joys and pains that we may face, and how to deal with every hurdle with which life tries to trip us up. This moving family favourite tells us that “miracles happen every day” and like this statement is at once deeply poignant and uplifting. Forrest explains that he may not be a smart man, but that he knows what love is… he certainly does, and as the credits of this cracker of a film roll, the audience does too.

Life may indeed be like a box of chocolates – but with Forrest Gump, you certainly DO know that what you’re going to get will be sweet!

Liz Overton

Archive

Tom Hanks takes the starring role in a film billed as a 'feel good picture'. As a child in the Alabama in the early 60's, Forrest Gump progresses from being quiet with an IQ of 75, to having an influence on most major events of the last 3 decades.

The majority of the film takes part with Gump relating to various people his life story, starting with his time as a child. Unfortunately, he has a walking disability (and another one; he wears red DMs), and it is not until he runs away from some particularly nasty bullies at his school that he discovers his first true talent; he can run. To the frequent cry of "Run, Gump, Run" from his childhood sweetheart Jenny (Robin Wright), he runs, until he is selected for the state Football team. The film then becomes a comedy of errors; Gump joins the army and goes to Vietnam simply because at graduation, a recruiting officer walks up to him. He fits in perfectly, following orders to the exact word, and eventually winning the congressional medal of honour.

Running is an essential theme; Jenny spends most of the film running from responsibility and problems, her solution to anything being to run away from it. Gump meets up with her periodically, each time attempting to save Jenny from people that could hurt her. This supplies a lot of the film's charm, with Gump wanting to protect her, even though she shuns his advances.

This film has so much to it, from an excellent soundtrack consisting of music relating to each period, to comedy, and the moving finale when Gump and Jenny actually meet up, that it really does offer something for everyone.

Gump's naivete is wonderful, with Tom Hanks playing the character superbly, in possibly his best role yet. The supporting cast do nothing except add to the charm of the film, especially Sally Field's portrayal of Gump's mother, who goes to any length to get the best for her son.

Giles Douglas

We are very proud to present this film on 35mm film with its (Oscar-nominated) original theatrical DTS digital soundtrack, as one of the few venues capable of doing so.