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The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
5/03, 12/03, 9/06, 6/15, 4/24
9/06:
Over time, The Shawshank Redemption is magically transformed from an ordinary prison film to a genuine neo-noir
classic.
Benefitting from Frank Darabont's well-written screenplay and powerful direction and Roger Deakins' cinematography, Tim
Robbins' and Morgan Freeman's performances lift the film off the ground and let it fly like the human spirit. Bob Gunton,
Clancy Brown, and James Whitmore are outstanding as well.
All in all, The Shawshank Redemption is The Count of Monte Cristo of prison pictures.
6/15:
Like It's a Wonderful Life, The Shawshank Redemption is one of those films
that take a while to achieve the
"classic" status because it was initially a box-office failure despite the seven Academy Award nominations.
The biggest reason is that Pulp Fiction and Forrest Gump ruled cinema in 1994. As time went on, it had
been clear that The Shawshank Redemption was the superior picture. Well, it has everything I look for
in a film. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman are unforgettable. Three more actors who didn't get enough credit for
their supporting performances are Bob Gunton, Clancy Brown, and James Whitmore.
The best movie moment is when Andy Defresne looked up to the sky in the middle of the rain after he broke out of the
Shawshank State Prison. Another one is the baseball scene with Red and Andy. The legend is they shot it for nine
hours with Morgan Freeman throwing the ball during the entire time. The next day, he showed up at work with his arm in a sling.
Remember the black guy who yelled, "Fresh fish! Fresh fish today! We're reeling 'em in!"? That's his son. Although the prison
is fictional, the building isn't as it's the Ohio State Reformatory which is now a museum that's located in Mansfield.
All in all, The Shawshank Redemption is among the best films of the 90's.
4/24:
The Shawshank Redemption is still a classic.