Forrest Gump

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

What wondrous ways for crew members await them when they are on board on one of the most successful movies of all time. Forrest Gump had it all, emotion through the acting, drama through the script and both combined in Silvestri's score. It is so far also the only Oscar nomination he has received which I find a bit strange. He has always delivered good music and some stand out as being brilliant. But of course, Forrest Gump is one of the few soundtracks that still is Oscar friendly and rightfully so, it is a score with high potential. It is an emotionally laden effort where the piano sets the emotion while strings dominate the fore as some more adventurous pieces. In a way this effort doesn't differ much from Contact, another winning combination of Zemeckis and Silvestri, but here the themes deliver more then just soothing mood.

The brilliant movie had some amazing scenes, even if they sound so simple in nature. Take 'I'm Forrest ... Forrest Gump' for instance with its perfect moving camera shot which follows a feather while accompanied through brilliant fitting score. This is all what film music is about, make it as fitting (meaning light) as the scene itself. The dramatic theme which returns in several tracks like 'You Can't Sit Here' and 'They're Sending me to Vietnam' receives its most emotional performance (with choral accompaniment) in the finale suite of the score. But most of all it is the powerful march of Gump himself that sets this album on fire with noticeable appearances in 'Run Forrest Run', 'The Crimson Gump', 'The Crusade' and 'Suite from Forrest Gump'. It is incredibly addictive to enjoy it every time again and again. Its performance is variant, like the best performance (with more energy and power) in track 6. The only different sounding piece on the whole soundtrack is 'Jesus on the Main Line' which was arranged by Alan Silvestri and has an excellent choral performance, I always liked it in the film no matter if it was score or not.

At the end, the whole album doesn't differ much in sound. This is a soft, touching soundtrack that relies on the emotion of the piano and strings (sometimes even a bit Rachel Portman in tone) but this never bores. Because Silvestri keeps the themes so beautiful enough and if it starts to drag then the powerful exciting march enters the field. People who do not like Forrest Gump were obviously not impressed by the movie because it always is the same old thing, the score supports the emotion but adds it so well on disc that the reappearing fragments simply make the experience worth it. The short release should however not be confused by its song album release (which has the white cover of Forrest sitting on the bench). So choose correctly and be transported into the world of Forrest Gump. At least Hanks was right during the movie, I never knew what I was going to get.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. I'm Forrest ... Forrest Gump (2.40) Excellent Track

2. You're No Different (0.57)

3. You Can't Sit Here (2.23)

4. Run Forrest Run (2.12) Excellent Track

5. Pray With Me (0.55)

6. The Crimson Gump (1.06) Excellent Track

7. They're Sending Me To Vietnam (2.20)

8. I Ran And Ran (1.40)

9. I Had A Destiny (1.17)

10. Washington Reunion (0.45)

11. Jesus On The Main Line (1.57) Excellent Track

12. That's My Boat (1.13)

13. I Never Thanked You (0.46)

14. Jenny Returns (2.40)

15. The Crusade (1.59) Excellent Track

16. Forrest Meets Forrest (1.40)

17. The Wedding Guest (1.45)

18. Where Heaven Ends (1.32)

19. Jenny's Grave (1.23)

20. I'll Be Right Here (0.47)

21. Suite From Forrest Gump (6.34) Excellent Track

Total Length: 39.25

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: Alan Silvestri ===