Forest Gump (Film Review)

Forest Gump

Sam Barnett Ryan McDermott

From the genius which brought you, “Back to the Future”, Robert Zemeckis has topped himself with the creation of the masterpiece which is, “Forest Gump”. The movie stars a brilliant Tom Hanks as the blissfully ignorant Forest Gump who inspires the lives of millions with his simplistic view on life. Gifted with a distinct lack of intellect, Gump grows up happy, care free and leads a very charmed life. Gump enjoys countless blessings including, a girlfriend who remains faithful to him till the end, surviving Vietnam with a medal and being the luckiest soul on the planet.
From my perspective the movie insinuates that intellect can be as damming as it is, (seemingly) necessary. Also and perhaps more importantly, childlike innocence, which is often considered stupid, has its distinct rewards. Throughout the movie, Gump encounters people who constantly talk down to him and insult him however he never takes offense. He is indeed not completely stupid, even though he is portrayed as such, he can still re-assemble guns at high speed, run like Hussein Bolt, play ping-pong exceptionally, and he also firmly grasps the fundamental simplicity of life.
The fact that Gump doesn't care, (or know) what others think, is essentially what makes him such a beautiful person. He becomes a millionaire, but gives most of the money away. He is honest, open and along with his Alabama accent is nothing but likeable.
Thanks to computer technology Gump rubs elbows which, Nixon, Elvis Presley, Lydon Banes Johnson inspiring each and every one of them. Gump is contrasted to the famous males, who are idols (in some cases) in today's society, and it appears as though he is better off in comparison: Gump's choices in life seem to determine his affable nature , ("a promise is a promise"). Gump also harbors no ill-feelings or grudges, and is anything but greedy. Gumps life is in deep contrast to his girlfriend Jenny’s life who, (with a boundless intellect and aspiration) falls heavily in to drugs and is a very cynical and depressing person. The people she is surrounded herself with are all of a dubious nature, a sexually-abusive father and an abusive hippie-boyfriend compound her negative cycle.
Forest Gump is a truly amazing film one which everyone should go out and see if you have not already done so. As for negatives the film is quite long and drawn, however the movie does exceptionally well to retain attention for the entirety.

Wolverine (Film Review)

X-men Origins: Wolverine

Sam Barnett Ryan McDermott

For every exceptional movie made in Hollywood there are at least a thousand truly awful movies drowning the movie theatres and DVD rental establishments in excrement. Although enjoying sales success, topping the box office and making a huge profit to me Wolverine was a blatant waste of my time and money. There is no arguing the production values, marketability and the draw of rising screen star Hugh Jackman, (playing the central character Wolverine), at times drew myself in to the plot. However these positives were negligible compared to the plethora of faults I had to endure throughout the film.

The premise of the film is sound enough, exploring the origins of one of the main characters in the X-men franchise. Also from a businessman’s point of view the success of origins spells at least another three successful multi million dollar movies for your bank balance to look forward to. However having not been a financier of the film I can only contribute my opinion on the quality of the film.

X-men Origins starts off in a Nostalgic pre Civil War setting with two step brothers one from a so called respectable upbringing, (that being Wolverine) and one from a dirt poor family with an abusive alcoholic father. Wolverine is sick in bed tended to by his well to do father and mother, whilst ?, angrily broods. Suddenly ?’s violently alcoholic father is heard screaming downstairs. Upon answering the door the well to do father is shot dead, inciting Wolverines fury, subsequently morphing claws which are then rammed in to the alcoholic gunman. The plot thickens as it is then disclosed that the alcoholic he killed is in fact both the children’s fathers. Luchious then drags his now Brother in to the woods teaching him the ways of the world and how to look after yourself.

Both Brothers actively partake in every war in American history since the Civil War, (being invincible and all that). This is about when the plot lost all credibility and it soon became clear it was another one of those pro American war mongering films which are not worth the cost of the disc they were printed on. This pro American trend continued throughout the film sensationalizing violence at every point.

Wolverine then falls in with a rural farming community instigating a superfluity of PG 13 jokes designed to fry the intelligence whilst giving you a warm feeling inside. There is then a major conflict between Luscious and Wolverine, blah, blah, blah more of the same monotonous material that made Wolverine such a big box office hit.

To describe the rest of the plot would be a waste of everyone’s time and would require numbing my brain for longer than I feel comfortable with. I would recommend that you see this movie so you can get some insight in to the direction in which the Republican Party will get its future support.

2 out of 5

Scarface (Film Review) part 2

(If you have not yet read part 1 click on older posts)

Scarface

Sam Barnett and Ryan McDermott

Tony and Frank’s closest associate Omar (F.Murray Abraham) travel to Bolivia in order to orchestrate a large scale drug deal with plantation owner and kingpin Alejandro Sosa (Paul Shenar) . Tony quickly agrees to purchase way more than authorized. Omar contests the decision resulting in his early departure by helicopter. It is then disclosed that Omar is a undercover cop who is subsequently killed and a tight bond is formed between Sosa and Montana.

Tony returns to Frank’s absolute fury over what happened in Bolivia. Frank tells Tony that the business partnership is over because a man like Sosa can not be trusted. Tony aggravates the situation by making a blatant pass at Frank’s wife right to his face.

Soon after a corrupt cop offering his name as Bernstein, (Harris Yulin), shakes Tony down at the, "Babylon Nightclub" blackmailing Tony about the two murders at the start of the movie. Tony quickly correlates Bernstein with Frank Lopez, (the only one he can’t trust that knew about the murders).

While at the Babylon Tony is almost gunned down by two goons. Tony escapes unscathed quickly blaming Tony Lopez for the hit. Tony proceeds to Franks shop subsequently killing him and the cop who blackmailed him at the club.

Tony makes a cool 75 million off the 2000 kilos of cocaine shipped by now close business partner Sosa and soon turns a 15 million dollar profit each month all hauled in to the bank to be cleaned up. Soon after the success Elvira now Tony’s wife becomes heavily addicted to cocaine and Tony becomes increasingly paranoid and untrusting of those around him. To compound Tony’s woes the bank is charging him extra on transactions due to the increased heat from Federal officials.

After searching for a cheaper alternative to the bank Tony is soon caught for tax evasion. After posting bail Sosa presents Tony with a deal that would see him assassinate a Bolivian anti-Government activist in return for Sosa pulling a few strings pertaining Tony’s release from jail using Sosa’s Justice Department contacts.

Tony then breaks up wife Elvira over a public spat at a restaurant full of distinguished guests. Tony, drunk and angry proclaims society need a “bad guy” to point the finger at and say, that’s who is the enemy all the while hiding behind their manners and polite etiquette.

On the day of the assassination Tony travels to New York with a skilled bombs expert. The plan is to detonate a bomb placed under the activists car upon his arrival at the UN building. However the activist makes an unscheduled stop at a hotel to pick his wife and kids up. Tony finds this too much and calls the hit off. The assassin far removed from what Tony is saying carries on as normal and in true Montana fashion shoots him in the head.

Tony then receives a stern and dire warning from Sosa who is now finding things exponentially more difficult in Bolivia. Tony then goes to Mannys house where Gina answers the door in robes. This incites Manny’s imminent death adding more shit to the pile.

Tony sits with his nose in a mountain of Cocaine awaiting the attack from Sosa’s men. Gina then comes in mocking Tony’s seemingly incestuous attitude towards her relationship with other men. She is then gunned down right in front of Tony. Rage ensues and Tony goes mental with an M16 eventually being shot in the stomach by the leader of the assault team.

Tony dies in his fountain displaying, “the World is Yours”. A suitable yet somber way to end the film.

Scarface is by far the best movie I have seen combining all the elements needed for a successful film.

5 out of 5