{"id":162352,"date":"2026-05-14T08:00:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T12:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/?p=162352"},"modified":"2026-05-13T08:13:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T12:13:26","slug":"robert-zemeckis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/?p=162352","title":{"rendered":"“I’m very concerned that we don’t make movies that are original anymore.” — Robert Zemeckis"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nIt’s his birthday today. <\/p>\n

While Robert Zemeckis has gone on to be a bazillionaire and one of the most successful producers in Hollywood of fairly middle-brow movies, he started off small and rowdy – with two films I love: first, I Wanna Hold Your Hand<\/i>, about a bunch of Beatles fans who all go to New York to try to get tickets to the Beatles’ appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show<\/i>, and the absolutely filthy – profane – corrupt – and gloriously funny Used Cars<\/i>.<\/p>\n

I mean …<\/p>\n

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\nThat is not false advertising. <\/p>\n

Both I Wanna Hold Your Hand<\/i> and Used Cars<\/i> were written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale. I find it difficult to forgive Forrest Gump<\/i>. I’m not offended by much but I am offended<\/i> by that film’s glorification of simplification and anti-intellectualism, and if you love it, I’m sorry but I’m all argued out on the Forrest Gump<\/i> front. I had to deal with friends saying, shocked, “HOW could you not like it??” The critical tide has turned, and many people seem to hate it now, but I felt like I was standing alone at the time. I despise<\/i> it. <\/p>\n

But let’s not dwell. (It’s hard not to dwell, though, because Forrest Gump<\/i> was such an enormous mainstream hit. I thought the whole world had gone stark raving crazy. I felt the same way about Life is Beautiful<\/i> too. Any time critics say “If you don’t like this movie, check your pulse” – something is rotten in the state of Denmark.) <\/p>\n

Zemeckis has also been at the helm of some other faves – Romancing the Stone<\/i> and Death Becomes Her<\/i>: adore both of them. <\/p>\n

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\nContact<\/i> has a very special place in my heart, and – unlike Forrest Gump<\/i> – actually prized knowledge and competence and expertise. I love the Jodie Foster character. Back to the Future<\/i> was, of course, huge – and unlike Forrest Gump<\/i> justifiably huge. I love Who Framed Roger Rabbit?<\/i>, loved its wit, loved how it utilized technology without upstaging the actual action. So far so good. I liked Cast Away<\/i> but – again – did not feel the swoon of adoration so many others felt. I did not feel that it was a “celebration of the human spirit.” I’m cranky. The movie also generated the “if you didn’t like this, check your pulse” response. I’ve checked my pulse. I am, indeed, fully alive. I just disagree with you about Forrest Gump<\/i>. Calm down. I’m not telling you YOU can’t love the movie. He directed Flight<\/i>, a very good movie with a cop-out of an ending. Flight<\/i> was rated-R and the first rated-R Zemeckis film SINCE Used Cars<\/i>. <\/p>\n

Looking at this track record (and I haven’t even mentioned his lengthy producer credits), it is VERY instructive to go back and watch I Wanna Hold Your Hand<\/i> and Used Cars<\/i>. <\/p>\n

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\nBoth films are made with competence and confidence, and both include extremely complicated sequences – multiple characters, multiple narratives. Both films require perfect comic timing, broad yet specific performances, and fearlessness in pushing things forward. These movies really MOVE. There is also a sense of total chaos in both films, runaway trains of madcap adventure. A director has to create the controlled environment where chaos like that can occur. <\/p>\n

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\nI’ve been meaning to write about I Wanna Hold Your Hand<\/i> for years. I caught it on afternoon TV when I was in high school and it launched me into one of those vivid fantasy worlds, where I was one of those kids, trying to storm the barricades. <\/p>\n

But I HAVE written about Used Cars<\/i>, for my Film Comment<\/i> column<\/a>. Used Cars<\/i> is the opposite of heart-warming. It is also laugh-out-loud funny. <\/p>\n

If you don’t laugh while watching Used Cars<\/i>, check your pulse.<\/p>\n

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\nThank you so much for stopping by. If you like what I do, and if you feel inclined to support my work, here’s a link to my Venmo account<\/a>. And I’ve launched a Substack, Sheila Variations 2.0<\/a>, if you’d like to subscribe.<\/em> <\/small><\/p>\n