Did They Make the Correct Choice? — Revisiting The 1995 Oscars Best Picture Race
Jamie Mah @grahammah
With the Oscars being what they are regarding a film's place in history, I thought it would be fun to look back at one of the most intriguing Best Picture races of all time, 1995's battle between Forrest Gump, Pulp Fiction, and The Shawshank Redemption.
As Malcolm Gladwell has so effectively showcased with his famous podcast Revisionist History, looking back at timely events can help put the past into perspective as it gives us a chance to reexamine whether our choices were correct ones.
Therefore, with a light tone and a web of curiosity, I'd like to go back to 1994 and assess the history of these three films, as each has come to gain legendary status among the pop culture collective.
When the Oscar nominations came out on February 14th, 1995, one obvious choice stood above the masses as the debate on who would win Best Picture began. Studio darling Forrest Gump garnered 13 nominations, the highest over 28 years.
With big-name player Tom Hanks spearheading the film, it wasn’t hard to see why. It had all the bait. A strong cast a unique story and a leading man in his prime. The movie presented itself with a flair of American patriotism one rarely finds on the big screen. It’s emotional, respectful, and an immediate “I’ll sit and watch” whenever it’s on TV type of flick.
Forrest Gump was the kind of film most of the public could root for. It also grossed over $660 million in ticket sales worldwide, which means plenty of people saw it.
Meanwhile, a rebel of the group, one which many felt deserved the most praise, came from up-and-coming auteur Quentin Tarantino, a man whose literary style was fast becoming a legend. Iconic scenes such as the one below fully captured the breadth of Tarantino’s talent as a writer.
Samuel L. Jackson’s voice would never be heard the same again.
This clip helped push the film and its appeal to the next level as it received the coveted Palme d'Or, the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. Public opinion was high, and whether the Academy would listen was another story. 1991's Best Picture winner, Silence of the Lambs, proved that gritty films could make their way into the Academy's good graces. In an average year, Pulp Fiction should win the Best Picture, Oscar. This, however, was no ordinary year.
Four Weddings and a Funeral, Quiz Show, and an early 20th-century prison movie, The Shawshank Redemption, rounded out the group of five.
Based on the Stephen King novella Different Seasons, The Shawshank Redemption suffered immediately from a poorly chosen name and a downer story. (The film brought in a modest $28 million box office.)
Its central thesis is based on two main characters, Andy and Red, and how both view the word hope. The eventual tagline of the film would end up being, "get busy living or get busy dying," as the movie's core narrative causes you to challenge this very phrase. With deliberate character development, it forces you to understand how life behind bars, whether warranted or not, can lead many to struggle with the notion of a prisoner's acceptance of their reality. The moral center of The Shawshank Redemption lies in its main character's discovery — that hope is powerful.
Fun Fact: Stephen King never cashed his $1,000 check for rights to the film. Several years after the movie, King got the check framed and mailed it back to Frank Darabont with a note inscribed, "In case you ever need bail money. Love, Steve."
MAY 1993 LAST DRAFT
This was when Quentin Tarantino finally finished writing Pulp Fiction. It was to follow his meagrely successful yet critically praised 1992 film Reservoir Dogs. Tarantino was a film buff of the highest regard, one who, when asked by Harvey Keitel how he came to write a script about tough guys, responded by saying, "I watch movies."
Pulp Fiction was the third year in which a film with Quentin's DNA (Reservoir Dogs in 1992 and True Romance in 1993) would be all over the big screen. It was apparent that audiences enjoyed his outlandish style.
Pulp Fiction was an event. The music employed became just as integral as the actors in the film. When you finished watching the movie, you inevitably came away with a better understanding about how to eat a girl out or that the taste of a five dollar shake were ones that would elicit some form of meaning — this film spent time on these subjects, which was unusual, as these were the types of regular ordinary conversations we all had. The dialogue felt natural, but then it didn't. This was and still is Tarantino's gift as a filmmaker.
Fun Fact: "fuck” is used two hundred sixty-five times.
Tom Hanks impressive turn as a gay lawyer on trial in 1993's poignant period piece Philadelphia had given the once boyishly young actor known chiefly for his comedic charm in films such as BIG and Turner and Hooch a heavy platform to flex his talent. His best actor win solidified his ascension to the big leagues - playing Forrest Gump took him to the next level.
Forrest Gump was a unique brand of film. Tom Hanks portrayal of Forrest is legendary. It's the only role he's ever done to date where you don't see Tom but only Forrest. He inhabits the character so mightily that you can't help but go along for the ride. Straight as an arrow, Forrest sits at the bus stop and recounts the events of his life to total strangers. We fall for his charm because what he's doing is something we all hope our humanity will do to others. He's a character who embodies the best in all of us. His love for Jenny, the only friend he grows up with, symbolizes how simple he views the world. Most of us would have given up on her and the troubles she struggles with throughout her life, but Forrest never wavers and thinks only of her.
Rooting for the good guy is as old a trope as Hollywood can give you. Forrest Gump has all the trappings of such a tale, even if its storyline and protagonist don't necessarily fit the archetypical mold of a classic root-for-the-good guy plot.
The central thesis for the movie is about one thing, love. That is why I assume voters cast their ballots in favor of this movie. The kitschiness can cause one to miss the underlying message the film is built upon, Forrest and Jenny's love for each other.
Fun Fact: Bill Murray, John Travolta, and Chevy Chase turned down the role of Forrest Gump, and Travolta later admitted that passing on the part was a mistake.
In comparing the three films, I've divided them into four categories: lead protagonist, best scene, intangibles, and resonance.
Lead Protagonist
The battle here is between Forrest Gump and Andy Dufresne. John Travolta's character, Vincent Vega, though highly acclaimed in its own right, isn't the stuff with the kind of meat you'd look to lean on when carrying a movie. His role within Pulp Fiction is central to the whole framework of the film, yet, it isn't outright based upon his narrative. Hence, this battle is between the two characters who come to epitomize Forrest Gump and The Shawshank Redemption.
Tom Hanks won the Best Actor for this role. His turn as Forrest, as I've alluded to above, is highly acclaimed, and he embodies the position like no other. From the sound of his Alabama accent to the way he moves and pontificates his expressions, Forrest Gump, the character, has as much nuance as any one actor can hope to showcase when developing their role.
Here's a quick clip of Hanks himself discussing how he garnered inspiration for his approach to playing the role. Fast forward to the 1:45 mark.
Twenty-five years later, the motion is still there. As you can see, when Tom draws Forrest out, Tom the man soon disappears. Accents and the ability to charge a character with little quirks are hallmarks of excellent acting. It’s why character actors like Daniel Day Lewis and Christian Bale are lauded with so much acclaim — it’s their ability to hide their identities within their characters that gives them a quick leg up when showcasing who they’re trying to portray.
Throughout Hanks career, his two signature Oscar wins came because of his ability to deliver poignant characters. As he illustrates in this clip, even to this day, his portrayal of Forrest still resonates with the pop culture collective — they remind him of Forrest wherever he goes. This gives his character Forrest Gump a triumphant salute of endurance and staying power, not to mention an lasting legacy. All of which cannot be ignored.
Some roles are forgotten. This, however, isn’t one of them.
This brings me to Tim Robbins portrayal of Andy Dufresne, which is the opposite of what I just described above. Tim Robbins hasn’t chosen to employ a distinct character feature. His accent is his own. Nonetheless, his character Andy is littered with plenty of peculiarities, even if they are less pronounced. Andy is shown to be bright, intelligent, aloof, and not afraid to use the word obtuse. He’s thoughtful yet brave, aptly showcased when he asks for beer in return for a favor that others would not have.
His character is loyal to those he cares for while daringly cunning when afforded. Part of the appeal of this character is how likable he comes across. You root for his success at every turn, and when he does succeed, you, the viewer, feel redeemed for putting stock in cheering him on. His struggle is one many can relate to, even if jail time isn’t something you’ve experienced.
Justice is sought the minute he’s wrongfully convicted, and as his story unfolds, Andy’s appeal grows with his mastery of prison life. The famous beer scene below is the first time we witness his artistry and fearlessness. Robbins hides nothing here, and as you see him wince when nearly thrown off the roof, you quickly realize the power he immediately gains the minute Captain Hadley listens to his advice.
Despite Robbins intense portrayal here, Hanks turn as Forrest is outstanding and hard to ignore.
Advantage: Forrest Gump
Best Scene
Regarding Forrest Gump, the film’s best scene must be when he finds out he has a son. So much emotion comes through as the entire thesis of the movie craters in. Whether it’s from the love of his life telling him he has a little boy, to his own life as someone who’s dealt with ridicule and disability, Hanks display here is compelling.
For The Shawshank Redemption, it has to be the reveal. The first time you watch that scene, your mind is blown. From Norton’s face to Red’s surprise, all of it is wonderful to see. Everything you thought and hoped would happen does, and it’s grand to witness Red, Norton, and Hadley see how Andy escaped. Justice is served, and sometimes it’s just great watching the guy win.
As for Pulp Fiction, well, that’s easy. The first clip I posted above is Samuel L. Jackson’s triumphant speech-laden monologue to poor Brett. I’ve never had a Big Kahuna burger but I wanted one after seeing this scene. Jackson’s command of every intangible is impressive; his ferocity makes you wonder if this is what it would be like to run into assassins for hire—Vega’s merely an afterthought, which says a lot about the performance.
Each of these three scenes is illustrious in its own right, but Samuel L. Jackson’s is hard to top. It’s probably the most fantastic scene to have come from any film of the 1990s. The reveal in Shawshank is close, though.
Advantage: Pulp Fiction
Intangibles
Aside from the main characters and the overall plots of each film, here are some of the little things that set these three films apart.
The Pulp Fiction soundtrack is one for the ages. It’s eclectic and a solid mix of old and new tracks, each helping to convey the mood and the style of one of the edgiest films ever. You have Al Green and Urge Overkill on the same record. Where are you ever going to see that again? And it works.
Side note: I’ve always wondered, had she not snorted his heroine, do you think they might have hooked up? I have a feeling they might have. Music, drinks, drugs…sex? It seems only logical. I guess we’ll never know.
The art of excellent filmmaking. Sometimes simple is the best approach. Here’s one example…
…and another.
Morgan Freeman narrates. I don’t think I should have to explain this one too much. He’s the best at it.
The wisdom of Momma and chocolates.
Christopher Walken! Christopher Walken! Christopher Walken!
He took a short monologue about a guy who stuffs his watch up his ass into two minutes of pure cinematic gold. That’s an intangible right there. Like a sixth man in basketball coming in to hit a huge three to help win the game, this scene is a big part of why this movie hit with so many people. Christopher Walken is Pulp Fiction’s version of Robert Horry. A guy who was never a leading man but somehow came away with some big plays in big movies that won audiences over.
Side note: Here’s Walken vs Hopper in True Romance. Another excellent display of the man’s talent.
Advantage: Pulp Fiction
Resonance
When looking back at the films that matter most as time passes, those we still linger with tell us they mean more than their peers. The Artist won the Best Picture Oscar in 2011, and I’ve yet to speak to anyone who’s talked about it ever since — I know very few people who’ve even seen it. You can say the same for Crash in 2005 or The English Patient in 1996. Hell, even Quiz Show could be thrown into this assumption as well. These movies spoke to the public during their run, but as time passed, they’ve been forgotten.
What sets certain films apart from others, even those that gained admiration and awards is how they connect with the overall community. Forrest Gump is a weird movie. It’s about a man who loves a girl and lives an unrealistic life. But it’s fun to watch, easy to root for, and a great popcorn flick. Tom Hanks is masterful, and the film is relatable for many. It’s understandable why it won Best Picture. But as I’ve debated throughout this piece, just because it made sense for Forrest Gump to win doesn’t mean it should have.
Pulp Fiction is a tour de force. So much happens, and you’re left wanting more with each sequence. Each character throughout the movie, minor or not, brings plenty to the table, and Tarantino weaves his story like a master conductor. It’s still his best movie to date, and the one many will remember as one of the singular films of the 20th Century.
The Shawshank Redemption has the most powerful message of the three, that hope is powerful. Most of us have never seen the inside of a prison, but Shawshank isn’t a prison movie; it’s about friendship and the power that can wield, even in the most challenging times.
In thoroughly assessing these three films, it isn’t shocking at all to realize they currently sit in the number 1 (Shawshank), 6 (Pulp Fiction), and 11 (Forrest Gump) positions on the IMDB Top 250 list.
Overall, I agree with the rankings. Shawshank packs the most weight of the three. I’ve probably seen it the most, and it’s the one movie I can’t help but still stew over after each rewatch.
Advantage: The Shawshank Redemption
So which film should have won the 1995 Best Oscar?
If you go by the four categories I have just laid out, Pulp Fiction should have won. It is the most artistic and unique of the three, and you could say it’s a masterpiece. It isn’t my favorite of the three, but it deserves this reflection the most. Forrest Gump winning the Best Oscar back in 1995 probably had more to do with Tom Hanks and the feel-good nature of the movie than it being the best of the lot, which, ultimately, is acceptable. Forrest Gump is a great movie, it just so happens that The Shawshank Redemption and Pulp Fiction are even better.
You could stew over all three and try to decipher who was the most deserving of that Oscar, just as I have here. Regardless of what choice you make or if you were to agree with mine today, one thing is for sure, 1994 was a particular year, and these three movies make it so. It’s been 25 years since they came out, and I’m confident in 25 years, this debate will still rage on.