Regardless of the level of interest one has with movies, everyone most likely has a favorite actor or actress. Although I have a wide range of actors that I think are great and always nail whatever role they are in, my personal favorite is Tom Hanks. He is an actor that has been a staple of the Hollywood industry and never seems to fail at any of the roles that he takes on. Some of his more famous works include Forrest Gump, The Post, Sleepless in Seattle, and of course the Toy Story Franchise. My favorite movie of his is Forrest Gump as not only is the storyline fascinating, but the acting performance of Tom Hanks is excellent.
Despite the film dating back to the mid 1990’s, Forrest Gump continues to be a popular in today’s age. To give a little overview the stroyline, a boy by the name of Forrest Gump is growing up in the south during the 1940’s and 50’s when there is an extreme level of racial discrimination and hate crimes. What makes Forrest so unique is that he has special needs and struggles with the use of his legs. Despite this obstacle that he faces with himself and those that treat him poorly, he lives a fulfilled life that takes him all over the world. This ranges from fighting in Vietnam to meeting the President of the United States among many other historical moments. Then on top of this he has an off and on relationship with his childhood sweetheart Jenny.
When looking at the role Tom Hanks takes on as the lead, his acting is incredible. For starters, he is able to embody the life of an individual with special needs and portray him in a way that can build empathy with the audience. This is in no way a simple task and his ability to pull this off is impressive alone. Nevertheless, Hanks also adds more details to his acting in the film that helps to make the storyline all the more meaningful. Although his character, Forrest, is not your average individual, Tom Hanks is able to portray him in a way that is relatable to all. This is evident through a variety of instances, but one in particular is his relationship with Jenny. The complications that come with their relationship and how Forrest wants to find love is an emotion that most, if not all, people can relate to. As strange as the love story is, this component to the film allows people who may think differently of those with special needs to realize that everyone shares the same emotions.
Even though there is still so much more that could be mentioned about Forrest Gump and the staple that it claims in Hollywood history, the acting performance of Tom Hanks is incredible for its ability to create empathy among audiences regarding people with special needs. The incorporation of this connection between the audience and the characters along with a interesting storyline is without a doubt a film for all generations.
A great actor can really make a character memorable, and I like how you bring this up around Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump. Though I have not seen this movie, you give a great summary that helps me understand your points better.