Forrest Gump

What should I write in a review of a film that hasn’t already been said a thousand times? In short, if you walk down the street and ask a hundred random people about the best movie of their lives, the most common answer will be Forrest Gump. A masterpiece in the history of cinema, funny, depressing, impressive, inspiring, with impeccable direction and performances that leave you amazed. I have a bit more distinctive film exhibitions in my top list, but this beauty still has a privileged and unshakable position in my heart... (04/18/2011)

The American version of the greatest Czech, Jára Cimrman. And he runs too. He runs a lot. Forrest’s mom always told him to do this and that. My Mom always told me that this is a darn good movie. And I absolutely agree with my Mom. This is the kind of a movie which whenever you start watching you always say to yourself “I’ll watch just this one scene, oh, and then this one and…" And you end up after watching one scene after the other till once again you find yourself at the end of the movie. It’s moving, funny and sad like almost nothing else (especially if you, like me, believe that the child isn’t his) brilliant acting (not only from Hanks) and unforgettable scenes in every other minute of footage. But what am I saying, in every minute of footage. (11/20/2003)

I saw Forrest Gump for the first time today. (It's 2011). I had high expectations for it and I have to say it surprised me. Tom Hanks, of course, gives an unbeatable performance. The narrative itself is brilliant. Not to mention the music that so casually supports the fantastic script. I don't think I'm able to fault the film because, even if something is wrong, you feel like it's meant to be that way. Every word, every detail is a treasure. Forrest went through everything and understood everything in his own way, never forgetting what his mother said. And even though he only had four people in his life (later five), his life was interesting and full. Now here's where the film surprised me... in other moving films, there are one or two passages that will make you cry. Here, I didn't cry for the entire time, but from beginning to end, something tickled my heart and I cheered in my mind at every word Forrest said. Maybe that's why I liked the movie so much. The emotions were poured into the film evenly so the viewer had no chance to get bored. Gump touched me deeply. (02/13/2011)

I could write almost the same thing for this film as I did for Pulp Fiction. When it premiered, I was studying in České Budějovice and I couldn't miss the screening in the local cinema, especially after reading the enthusiastic review in Cinema (at that time, under the guidance of Iva Hejlíčková, it was still worth something). There were about twenty of us in the cinema, and at the end there was a chorus of sniffling, accompanied by wiping tears on handkerchiefs. And what happened next? Then, full of enthusiasm, I recommended Forrest Gump to all my friends and acquaintances at the uni, and it’s admirable how word of mouth worked at a time when there was no internet (and mobile phones were the size of a small suitcase and owned only by a select few). Five days later, on the day before the last screening, I wanted to repeat the experience and I was unlucky – it was sold out! Back then, premieres and films in general were screened only for a week, unlike today's multiplexes, but with Forrest Gump they made an exception and extended the screenings for another week and almost all the screenings were full. As far as I know, Forrest continued to fill cinemas across the country for at least another year and a half after its premiere. You know, back then it you couldn't download a hideous screen-rip from the internet, you had go to the cinema for the experience. (02/03/2014)

Yes, I am one of those people who love this movie. From the first shot to the last one. Unbelievable Tom Hanks, unbelievably original and imaginative story, and above all, the emotions that move me. I've had a similar experience with only a few movies. The first one that always comes to mind is "Big Fish". "Forrest Gump" is simply a legend, and when you say beautiful movie, and I mean beautiful in every way, it is this one. (02/09/2014)