Tom Hanks Defends Disputed ‘Forrest Gump’ Oscar Win Over ‘Pulp Fiction’ Citing Its ‘Heartbreaking Humanity’

Jun 16, 2022 by apost team

Tom Hanks has landed the leading role in a number of films over the span of his career. Some of his most notable films include “Sleeping In Seattle,” “Apollo 13,” “Philadelphia,” “Forrest Gump” and the “Toy Story” franchise. Hanks has shown his wide range as an actor over his four decades in the film industry as he has played a variety of characters and showcased just how capable and adaptable he can be. Along with this, Hanks has also proven himself as a producer, screenwriter and director for a plethora of films and television shows.

Hanks’ impressive career has made him a favorite with both fans and critics, as he has won a litany of awards and accolades, and he is easily one of the most beloved actors in the industry today. Many people have even dubbed him "America’s dad." Getting his start during the 1980s, Hanks first struggled with making a name for himself and landing roles that led to success. He slowly worked his way up the ladder in Hollywood, and by the time the 1990s rolled around, Hanks had established himself as a reliable and dedicated actor.

In 1994, he landed the leading role in one of the most iconic films in his repertoire, “Forrest Gump.” Hanks was easily the shining star of the dramatic movie and really showcased his acting abilities. The film was received well by fans and critics at the time and even went on to win several Academy Awards, including the award for Best Picture.

However, many people believed that another movie should have taken home the prestigious award. Still, Hanks has defended “Forrest Gump"'s win and the nostalgia it still holds today.

Hanks has been recognized as a lovable star for many decades. He and his wife Rita Wilson are a well-known power couple in Hollywood and their lasting marriage has always appeared rock solid. A fixture in the entertainment industry for decades, they're not only known for their individual work as successful actors and filmmakers, but for their wonderful love story that really does appear as if it's straight out of a Hollywood movie.

Over the years, they’ve opened up in the past about what makes their long-running marriage work. When she appeared on Kelly Clarkson's daytime talk show in April 2020, Wilson revealed that Tom's talkative character was "one of the things, when we met, that we just got along instantly," as reported by People. She continued:

"First of all, I love a good storyteller. So anybody who could tell a good story, I'm down with that ... I love that. He makes me laugh all the time. He's a great storyteller."

On top of that, Hanks is known for being an outstanding actor. Following his newfound fame from “Sleepless In Seattle” and “Philadelphia” in 1993, Hanks landed one of his best roles when he was cast as the lead in the 1994 movie “Forrest Gump.” 

Hanks has plenty of fond memories from his time filming the movie, from paying for the iconic running scene after the production company refused to put down the money itself, to shooting the park-bench scenes. Although at first, Hanks said he didn’t think anyone would “care” about the dialogue in the scenes, he has since realized just how critical they were for the film, according to the New York Times Magazine.

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The film was not only received well by fans, but critics couldn’t get enough of the amazing performance put on by Hanks and the overall theme of the movie. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film went on to win six Academy Awards, and grossed $683 million at the box office, according to IndieWire. 

However, not everyone thought that “Forrest Gump” should have taken home the Oscar for Best Picture, as many people were huge fans of the film “Pulp Fiction,” which was also nominated for the prestigious award.

The New York Times Magazine referred to “Forrest Gump” as a “totem of boomer nostalgia” while “Pulp Fiction” was viewed as more “fresh.” However, Hanks has defended his movie winning the Oscar that year, saying that the filmmakers were “diabolical geniuses.” He added:

“But there’s books of the greatest movies of all time, and ‘Forrest Gump’ doesn’t appear because, oh, it’s this sappy nostalgia fest. Every year there’s an article that goes, ‘The Movie That Should Have Won Best Picture’ and it’s always ‘Pulp Fiction.’ ‘Pulp Fiction’ is a masterpiece without a doubt. Look, I don’t know, but there is a moment of undeniable heartbreaking humanity in ‘Forrest Gump’...”

For Hanks, being an actor is all about authenticity. He said:

“You know, I was not an overnight sensation. I had been in movies for a long time until I had enough opportunities and experience to realize that I don’t have to say yes to everything just because they’re offering me the gig.”

He added:

“But if you look at anybody’s career, there’s hits and misses. There’s movies that simply don’t work, and if something not working is debilitating to you, you’re toast.”

Are you a fan of Tom Hanks? Do you think the film “Forrest Gump” has lived up to its legacy? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones.