Director: Frank Darabont
Screenplay: Frank Darabont (based on the book by Stephen King)
Cast: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton
Music: Thomas Newman
Time: 142 minutes
Bottom-line: A highly inspiring story, made a classic by the acting of the three lead actors
A directorial triumph in his debut film, Frank Darabont brings us this highly entertaining prison drama. Starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman in the lead roles, The Shawshank Redemption is the story of a prisoner who changes the lives of everyone in the prison, including the warden’s. Directed in such a way that the meaning of hope goes deep into the viewers, this is a great film, though it did not win any Oscar, despite its seven nominations.
1947: Banker Andy Dufresne (Robbins) is sentenced to two back-to-back life sentences in Shawshank prison, for murdering his wife and her lover. In the prison, there exists a man called Ellis Boyd ‘Red’ Redding (Freeman), a friendly guy who can ‘get things’ for people inside. Andy and Red become thick friends, and Andy asks Red to get him a rock hammer, as he wants to make small chess pieces from rocks. Among all men, Andy is the only one with a different mind. He believes everyone is innocent like himself; he believes that requesting for something persistently and politely will help him get it, and he believes that hope is a good thing. As time goes by, he releases that there is a darker side to the prison, in events especially related to the Warden Samuel Norton (Gunton) and the chief guard Byron Hadley (Clancy Brown). The rest of the film is about what Andy does to inspire the other inmates, and the film also covers other events that happen in Shawshank prison.
Like The Hurt Locker, this film also has no ‘story’; it tells various events taking place in the prison. Due to this, I feel that the story goes off beat in some places, and also goes slow occasionally. Yet, it is a very inspiring one. As I said before, instead of directing a film only about hope, Darabont does well do infuse both hope and lots of drama into this film, thereby making it interesting to watch, and also spreading the meaning of hope. The score and photography are also good. The camera work is in such a way that not too much violence is shown on screen, making this more of a drama film than a violent action film.
The dialogues are excellent. I like the way Red’s narration in the background makes the viewers understand the story, without any flashback or such. Through the dialogues we can also understand the different views of prisoners: one prisoner who thinks that he is certain to be in the prison for the rest of his life (Red); one for whom coming out of the prison is more weird and frightening than being inside it (Brooks); and one who believes that hope can set anyone free (Andy). Red says, “These prison walls are funny. First you hate 'em, then you get used to 'em. Enough time passes, gets so you depend on them. That's institutionalized.” This statement indeed shows a harsh truth about prisons. Red also says, “Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.” Yet, Andy manages to convince him, and all the others in the prison, that hope is, and will be, a good thing. The message of hope is shown in such a powerful manner in this film.
The acting is also terrific. The dialogues give a boost to the acting, and Robbins, Freeman and Gunton have all done brilliantly. Freeman dialogues and his facial expression go well together. His acting is good throughout the film, but I liked it especially towards the end. His dialogues towards the end of the film are also great and moving. I also liked Gunton’s role as Warden Norton. I don’t think any one else could have acted that character as well as he did: it’s like he was made to play such a villainous role, and he doesn’t disappoint. Robbins may not have so many facial expressions, but his character and dialogues make his acting great.
(This paragraph may contain spoilers) Andy’s character is the main thing that gives the viewers hope. He writes many letters to the state government to start a library in the prison. He keeps writing letters even though the warden discourages him, and even though he receives no response. In another incident, he turns on some music in the public address system for which he gets a solitary confinement; yet he is not worried, as the others in the prison were happy after hearing the music. He doesn’t mind doing accounts for Warden Norton either. In fact, he does banking work for all the guards at Shawshank. Such is the character of Andy Dufresne: don’t mind about how others treat you; just do good to others around you.
This film takes the 72nd position in AFI’s top 100 movies (different from the list of top 100 thrillers), but it tops the IMDb’s list of 250 films, with a rating of 9.2 on 10. This film ranks ahead of other classics like The Godfather Parts 1 and 2, and even ahead of the Best Picture winner of 1994, Forrest Gump.
Overall, Darabont’s The Shawshank Redemption is an inspiring film, taking place in a location where no one would associate hope with. With its great acting and powerful dialogues, this film proves to be more than just another ordinary drama film. Watch for Freeman’s and Gunton’s acting, and be inspired by the message it gives.
My Rating: 5/5
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 90%
Screenplay: Frank Darabont (based on the book by Stephen King) Cast: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton
Music: Thomas Newman
Time: 142 minutes
Bottom-line: A highly inspiring story, made a classic by the acting of the three lead actors
A directorial triumph in his debut film, Frank Darabont brings us this highly entertaining prison drama. Starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman in the lead roles, The Shawshank Redemption is the story of a prisoner who changes the lives of everyone in the prison, including the warden’s. Directed in such a way that the meaning of hope goes deep into the viewers, this is a great film, though it did not win any Oscar, despite its seven nominations.
1947: Banker Andy Dufresne (Robbins) is sentenced to two back-to-back life sentences in Shawshank prison, for murdering his wife and her lover. In the prison, there exists a man called Ellis Boyd ‘Red’ Redding (Freeman), a friendly guy who can ‘get things’ for people inside. Andy and Red become thick friends, and Andy asks Red to get him a rock hammer, as he wants to make small chess pieces from rocks. Among all men, Andy is the only one with a different mind. He believes everyone is innocent like himself; he believes that requesting for something persistently and politely will help him get it, and he believes that hope is a good thing. As time goes by, he releases that there is a darker side to the prison, in events especially related to the Warden Samuel Norton (Gunton) and the chief guard Byron Hadley (Clancy Brown). The rest of the film is about what Andy does to inspire the other inmates, and the film also covers other events that happen in Shawshank prison.
 |
| Robbins as Andy and Freeman as Red (right) |
Like The Hurt Locker, this film also has no ‘story’; it tells various events taking place in the prison. Due to this, I feel that the story goes off beat in some places, and also goes slow occasionally. Yet, it is a very inspiring one. As I said before, instead of directing a film only about hope, Darabont does well do infuse both hope and lots of drama into this film, thereby making it interesting to watch, and also spreading the meaning of hope. The score and photography are also good. The camera work is in such a way that not too much violence is shown on screen, making this more of a drama film than a violent action film.
 |
| Bob Gunton as Warden Norton |
The dialogues are excellent. I like the way Red’s narration in the background makes the viewers understand the story, without any flashback or such. Through the dialogues we can also understand the different views of prisoners: one prisoner who thinks that he is certain to be in the prison for the rest of his life (Red); one for whom coming out of the prison is more weird and frightening than being inside it (Brooks); and one who believes that hope can set anyone free (Andy). Red says, “These prison walls are funny. First you hate 'em, then you get used to 'em. Enough time passes, gets so you depend on them. That's institutionalized.” This statement indeed shows a harsh truth about prisons. Red also says, “Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.” Yet, Andy manages to convince him, and all the others in the prison, that hope is, and will be, a good thing. The message of hope is shown in such a powerful manner in this film.
 |
| Whitmore as Brooks Hatlen, another inmate |
The acting is also terrific. The dialogues give a boost to the acting, and Robbins, Freeman and Gunton have all done brilliantly. Freeman dialogues and his facial expression go well together. His acting is good throughout the film, but I liked it especially towards the end. His dialogues towards the end of the film are also great and moving. I also liked Gunton’s role as Warden Norton. I don’t think any one else could have acted that character as well as he did: it’s like he was made to play such a villainous role, and he doesn’t disappoint. Robbins may not have so many facial expressions, but his character and dialogues make his acting great.
 |
| Gil Bellows as Tommy |
(This paragraph may contain spoilers) Andy’s character is the main thing that gives the viewers hope. He writes many letters to the state government to start a library in the prison. He keeps writing letters even though the warden discourages him, and even though he receives no response. In another incident, he turns on some music in the public address system for which he gets a solitary confinement; yet he is not worried, as the others in the prison were happy after hearing the music. He doesn’t mind doing accounts for Warden Norton either. In fact, he does banking work for all the guards at Shawshank. Such is the character of Andy Dufresne: don’t mind about how others treat you; just do good to others around you.
 |
| One memorable quote by Andy |
This film takes the 72nd position in AFI’s top 100 movies (different from the list of top 100 thrillers), but it tops the IMDb’s list of 250 films, with a rating of 9.2 on 10. This film ranks ahead of other classics like The Godfather Parts 1 and 2, and even ahead of the Best Picture winner of 1994, Forrest Gump.
Overall, Darabont’s The Shawshank Redemption is an inspiring film, taking place in a location where no one would associate hope with. With its great acting and powerful dialogues, this film proves to be more than just another ordinary drama film. Watch for Freeman’s and Gunton’s acting, and be inspired by the message it gives.
My Rating: 5/5
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 90%
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