The filmmakers behind the adaptation of Winston Groom’s novel all contend that Forrest Gump is “apolitical,” but watching it today puts that claim into serious question. Besides, was it ever really true? Join Luke Elliott & James Bailey in episode 314 as they discuss Tom Hanks running his way into American hearts with a more wholesome version of the character from the novel, what Jenny represents and how she is treated by the story, what Lt. Dan says about America’s conflicted feelings over the Vietnam War, and how the movie tries to evoke nostalgia without all the baggage of a truly complicated world. They finish off by casting their votes on which one’s better: the book or the movie?

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References

• Forrest Gump: The Myth of America https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Aactzo5myg

Luke Elliott

• Website: www.lukeelliottauthor.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/luminousluke
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/lpelliott/
• Threads: https://www.threads.net/@lpelliott
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/luminousluke.bsky.social

James Bailey

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jame_Bail
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamebail/

Credits

• “Skies” by Ross Bugden https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiVYAXKVh_k