The one movie Tom Hanks knows he will always be remembered for: “Cracked some kind of amazing code”
To be an actor is to be a master craftsman, constantly moving forward to give your best performance. To be an icon is to achieve a status that no bad performance can ever ruin. Among the first names to pop up in one’s mind whenever Hollywood is mentioned, Tom Hanks is nothing short of a national treasure.
Having worked with some of the greatest filmmakers in the industry, ranging from Steven Spielberg to Robert Zemeckis, Hanks’ legendary body of work isn’t just beloved by American audiences but by film fans all over the world. He is, for all intents and purposes, ‘America’s dad’.
Over the years, Hanks has successfully diversified his filmography to a great extent by appearing in projects that span multiple genres. However, for some, the You’ve Got Mail star will always be associated with comedies. In fact, it was those early works, such as Splash and Big, that paved his way to the top of the industry, eventually bolstering his portfolio with iconic rom-coms like Sleepless in Seattle.
In addition to winning the hearts of millions of fans, Hanks’ approach to his craft shaped the way future generations of actors interpreted the genre. Even though he has a lot of great comedy films to choose from, there’s one that will always remain close to Hanks. The movie in question is none other than Zemeckis’ iconic 1994 gem Forrest Gump, starring Hanks as the titular character who navigates the strange labyrinths of life with nothing but his naiveté to save him.
During a conversation with Bafta, Hanks opened up about his love for the project: “I think it’s just a very special movie that Bob cracked some kind of amazing code in which for a generation you see all that we had survived, you know,” he said. “We realised we had just been through a lot. My own kind of prism on it was in those discussions that I talked about earlier, where we talked about the script for years. I was always fighting against scenes that made no sense to me.”
Initially, Hanks could not understand the military scenes in the film because Forrest should logically have been kicked off the unit the moment he started making stupid mistakes with Bubba. However, the actor works with Zemeckis to build on the characterisation of Forrest Gump, which results in the iconic scene where he breaks records to reassemble his weapon. It was Hanks who figured out that for someone like Forrest, tasks with straightforward objectives should be child’s play.
Expanding on the legacy of Forrest Gump, Hanks pointed out that the character would definitely be fine as he ages because he came out on top after surviving through such hardships. However, the actor’s comments can also be read as his view on the future perception of the film.
He explained, “And I think it comes off in the screenplay that you end up oddly feeling that he’ll be okay at the end of the movie. He’s got his kid. He’s been through enough that he’s learned enough that I’m not really worried about Forrest Gump becoming 60 years old. He’ll probably be okay. Movies like that, that’s bottling lightning, man. It will be with me forever.”
While some have claimed that the comedy of Forrest Gump has become undeniably dated and that its charm is no longer viable for modern audiences, newer generations of cinephiles continue to discover and appreciate Hanks’ brilliant performance.
The truth is, for an icon like Hanks, there are probably tens of movies that could be labelled and categorised under his Hollywood epitaph. His role in Saving Private Ryan was magical, but it was part of a great ensemble piece. Sleepless in Seattle is another great picture, but not many people could tell you Hanks’ role without a prompt. Aside from shouting “Wilson!”, one doubts if you could name too many happenings from Cast Away. But, Forrest Gump is different.
It has permeated our culture at every point. It not only has entered the English vernacular, with several phrases now feeling as commonplace as “hello” and “goodbye”, but become a staple for anybody who just enjoys watching movies. But, above all that, it perfectly replicates, in look and feel, the entire career of Hanks. Homely, entertaining, and ultimately, memorable.
Watch the trailer below.
