Bama Nation's thoughts on Forrest Gump?

[Blue Devil Tide]

Hey, sorry if this has been talked about before or something.

I was watching Forrest Gump the other day and wondered how the Bama nationa felt about the school and team being portrayed in the movie. I thought it was just fine, pretty much...although I don't think our athletes are as slow as ol' Forrest ;-)

 

[TideFan in AU]

I don't know, but it sure would be nice to have him on kickoffs with Pro being injured and all.

 

[rizolltizide]

They got a name for the winners in the world...

 

[bayoutider]

Forrest would surely win us a SEC and National ping pong championship.

 

[Spot Dailey]

I heard many folks got their shorts in a wad over the way the "Coach Bryant" character in the film was presented. I think there was a backlash about any outsider's portrayal of anything Alabama after the Gary ABusey debacle (was supposed to be a film about Coach Bryant's life) that shot briefly in Tuscaloosa. Thank heaven that one didn't go any further (I guess they ran out of blow and had to cancel the film).
From a Tuscaloosa native's point of view, I though the movie Forrest Gump had a great charm to it and never thought once that Forrest was portraying the average Alabamian (athough in some cases on this board, I'd find exception to that) I think the movie itself and Forrest's character as an innocent who achieved greatness simply by being himself, is bigger than any locale or stereotype.
It's in my all time top 10 movies, right behind "The Man Who Would Be King".

 

[Tide64]

I heard many folks got their shorts in a wad over the way the "Coach Bryant" character in the film was presented. I think there was a backlash about any outsider's portrayal of anything Alabama after the Gary ABusey debacle (was supposed to be a film about Coach Bryant's life) that shot briefly in Tuscaloosa. Thank heaven that one didn't go any further (I guess they ran out of blow and had to cancel the film).

What are you talking about? The film was completed and released.

The Bear

I can't really comment on the film since I have not seen it.

 

[Boclive]

I thought Tom Hanks failed to achieve an accent that remotely approached anything I'd ever heard growing up in Alabama.

For some reason Sally Field sounded like my sister (if I had a sister, which I don't).

I loved Forrest Gump, and wasn't offended by any part of the movie.

 

[Ldlane]

Forrest sounded like he was from Tennessee or Louisiana.

I like the Movie and I have it on DVD. I wasn't particularly satisfied with the Coach Bryant "fictional" character.

Coach Bryant pushed to get the Univerisity of Alabama integrated and that is why he scheduled USC with Sam "Bam" Cunningham. IMHO, Sam Cunningham probably did more for integration at Alabama than MLK.

I think that the character was "unfair" to Coach Bryant and his legacy.

 

[Crimson Surfer]

How could you not like the movie Forrest Gump? When I was leaving the movie theater I was amazed at how many women were crying and I watched it in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Forrest was a Bama football star, a highly decorated war hero awarded the Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart, a successful businessman, a national celebrity, and a "Godzillionaire." Forrest represented Greenbow, Alabama and the Crimson Tide very well.

Bama, Bear loom big in Forrest Gump story

Once a high school prospect was offered a scholarship by Bear Bryant, already a legendary coach by the early 1960s, there was no way to return to a routine existence, no way to ignore a football-mad society.

Didn't matter if you were an honest-to-goodness football hero or someone purely fictional like Forrest Gump.

"By having him play football for Alabama, I guess that was the breakout of the novel," Groom said. He was discussing his 1986 book, which became the basis for a nationwide love affair, which became the movie that won the Oscar for best picture. "Until then, I didn't know what I was going to do with him.

"But then I thought if he could play high school football, why couldn't he play football for Alabama? If he could make it at Alabama and play for Bear Bryant, he could do anything in world."

So Forrest Gump went to Alabama, became a starting halfback, and scored four touchdowns in his first college game, a 35-3 victory over Georgia.

 

[Mamacalled]

Winston Groom, the author of Forrest Gump, is not an outsider. He is from Mobile, a graduate of the University of Alabama and big fan of Alabama football. He is also a resident of Point Clear.

 

[DeaconBlues]

They got a name for the winners in the world...

.....'I want a name when I lose,
they call Alabame the CRIMSON TIDE,
call me DeaconBlues' :cool2:

Thanks Riz for setting me up for that.

To me, it seems Forrest didn't tarnish our image at all. I still get a kick out of the
portrayal.

Purple Heart:
....'shot me right in the buttocks'!

 

[MDBFUNFOREVER]

Winston Groom was marshall of home coming parade in '98 or '99. Band played theme from movie for homecoming.

Only thing not happy with in movie is that the band is USC trojians band.

Sometimes I wish UA would support movies that deal with the school, especially since it was written by Alumnus.

 

[rizolltizide]

.....
Thanks Riz for setting me up for that.

You're welcome. I was wondering how long it was going to take for somebody to finish it off.

 

[kayakerjess]

Winston Groom, the author of Forrest Gump, is not an outsider. He is from Mobile, a graduate of the University of Alabama and big fan of Alabama football. He is also a resident of Point Clear.

...and a relative of mine. I loved the movie for many of the reasons that have been stated here. The book's great too and just as funny.

 

[NOSty]

I'm an "outsider", but I loved it...

That movie is great! How could you have a movie about the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s and NOT inlude Alabama football? It was the logical step.

 

[bat123]

I liked the movie but was not overly pleased how Coach Bryant was portrayed.

 

[UAinNASHVILLE]

I loved the movie

I know some aubs make fun of it because it has a mentally slow person getting his degree from UA. My response to that is it was about someone who overcomes his own liabilities to perform great things, if it wasn't they would have had him get his degree from auburn.

 

[Blue Devil Tide]

^Haha, great response!

 

[TheCapstone]

Forrest

I thought it was a wonderful movie with a terrific example of how there are many people with limitations, mental and physical, who can succeed in our wonderful country. The character in the movie didn't see color as was portrayed by his relationship with Bubba and his actions at the stand off at by George Wallace at the school house door. I didn't let it bother me about the portrayal of Coach Bryant and further more, Coach Bryant had his vices so he would have been the first to tell anyone not to portray him as some sort of saint. He was just like most of us, he was known to curse a little, drink a little, and at one point in his life he could kick a few butts. Most of all, I loved seeing Alabama football in the film. If you have noticed over the years our school has a part in quite a few films and songs. Such as the movie Crimson Tide and the song Sweet Southern Comfort. Not many schools can say that. I went with my wife to see the movie Crimson Tide without any knowledge of the speech before setting off in the sub. I almost jumped and yelled. It was a teary eyed moment for me because I do dearly love my Tide.

 

[BayouBama75]

Great Movie

My son named his dog Forrest Gump.... We just call him Forrest..Forrest is now 11 years old and he can run like the wind.