This is my 3rd Movie review; please keep all criticisms constructive no excessive nit-picking please
The Shawshank Redemption is a Drama released in February 1995. It runs for 142 minutes.
The Shawshank Redemption is a film written by Frank Darabont (3 time Oscar nominee) after reading a short story by the writer Stephen King; ?Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption?.
The film centres on Andy Dufrense, who is sent to prison for a double life sentence after his wife and the man she was cheating on him with, were found shot dead. Dufrense, who claims he is innocent, is sent to Shawshank prison. There he meets the inmate ?Red?, and the pair form a strong friendship; despite the tough conditions they face at Shawshank. Andy?s tale may be slightly far-fetched, but the film is immersive enough and portrays these events in such a realistic way you don?t really notice. Inside Dufrense meets an array of inmates, from the hilarious Heywood, to the oldest inmate in the prison Brooks. Who?s short, but memorable appearance encompasses the messages this film gives to its audience.
?Hope?, and the way people trap themselves in their daily lives. Now you may be thinking, ?what?s he talking about, it?s a prison movie?, and that?s exactly how the film draws the viewer in. It is only after watching the film can a viewer truly understand the experience this film gives you.
On IMDB.com (a film fact site) The Shawshank Redemption is the number one rated film ever created (at the time of writing) .
Source: http://www.imdb.com/chart/top?tt0111161
That list includes some of the most renowned films ever created ? The Godfather, Star Wars, The Matrix, Citizen Kane, even recent thrillers such as The Dark Knight. All fall to the sheer popularity of this film. There has to be something more to this film than a simple prison story; for on the DVD I watched this film on (found in a bargain bin may I note) I saw members of a Christian group discussing this film and its reference to modern society; I will take an example from the trailer, as not to spoil the film. In one of the final shots of the trailer we see Andy standing half-naked with rain pouring around him, his arms out-stretched. This is meant to be a religious reference to new-life, and death.
But enough about seeing things that might not be there; you don?t care about the deeper meanings of a film you have not seen, you want me to explain what its about and my opinions on it? Well I?m not going to go into more detail (with regards to the story) because that could potentially spoil the whole film for you. That is how highly I rate this film. One of the things that make this film so appealing is the acting; now anyone who has read my previous reviews will know I haven?t been particularly critical when it comes to acting. (A fact I learnt with my Batman Begins review) but the quality of performance in this film cannot be criticised. The acting, and emotion displayed by all the characters (even the extras) is of the highest order.
Tim Robbins does an outstanding job as Andy Dufrense, at first he appears still and uneasy, but as a Morgan Freeman overview points out ? he is supposed to appear like that; he?s just been given a double life-sentence! Robbins does an excellent job of making the audience care about his character; particularly important in a film such as this one. As just mentioned, Morgan Freeman plays ?Red? ? ?the man who has been known to locate certain things?. He gives a truly amazing performance, from laughing at a joke told by Heywood, to feeling depressed as he realises a harsh reality about prison life. Morgan does a particularly grand job of getting emotions from viewers.
As mentioned, all extras do a fantastic job of bringing each character a unique personality, slipping in a back-story to even the least important characters. Other noteworthy performances include that of William Saddler (Heywood), Gil Bellows (Tommy, a man who knows the truth behind Andy?s past) and Bob Grunton (Warden Norton) ? who?s performance excels that even of Robbins; Grunton?s character, a corrupt Warden who hides behind religion, is executed perfectly. The Shawshank Redemption was filmed in Mansfield, Ohio, and the prison used is Ohio state reformatory ? a large Gothic building. The set is superb ? setting the tone well. The music is also well done; composed by Thomas Newman and was nominated for an Oscar. He has produced great music for recent blockbusters such as Wall-E and Revelation Road. You may think I?m heaping too much praise on this film, after all the premise sounds corny, over-done, clichéd. Yet it has a unique charm about it that has made so many people watch it. The message of hope and inspiration is one many people can enjoy and take away.
Despite not winning a single Oscar (although being nominated for 7 certainly heightened the films popularity) and being received terribly by critics at the time (a film portraying Hope?) this film has emerged to become one of the all time greats.
A must watch.
The Shawshank Redemption is a Drama released in February 1995. It runs for 142 minutes.
The Shawshank Redemption is a film written by Frank Darabont (3 time Oscar nominee) after reading a short story by the writer Stephen King; ?Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption?.
The film centres on Andy Dufrense, who is sent to prison for a double life sentence after his wife and the man she was cheating on him with, were found shot dead. Dufrense, who claims he is innocent, is sent to Shawshank prison. There he meets the inmate ?Red?, and the pair form a strong friendship; despite the tough conditions they face at Shawshank. Andy?s tale may be slightly far-fetched, but the film is immersive enough and portrays these events in such a realistic way you don?t really notice. Inside Dufrense meets an array of inmates, from the hilarious Heywood, to the oldest inmate in the prison Brooks. Who?s short, but memorable appearance encompasses the messages this film gives to its audience.
?Hope?, and the way people trap themselves in their daily lives. Now you may be thinking, ?what?s he talking about, it?s a prison movie?, and that?s exactly how the film draws the viewer in. It is only after watching the film can a viewer truly understand the experience this film gives you.
On IMDB.com (a film fact site) The Shawshank Redemption is the number one rated film ever created (at the time of writing) .
Source: http://www.imdb.com/chart/top?tt0111161
That list includes some of the most renowned films ever created ? The Godfather, Star Wars, The Matrix, Citizen Kane, even recent thrillers such as The Dark Knight. All fall to the sheer popularity of this film. There has to be something more to this film than a simple prison story; for on the DVD I watched this film on (found in a bargain bin may I note) I saw members of a Christian group discussing this film and its reference to modern society; I will take an example from the trailer, as not to spoil the film. In one of the final shots of the trailer we see Andy standing half-naked with rain pouring around him, his arms out-stretched. This is meant to be a religious reference to new-life, and death.
But enough about seeing things that might not be there; you don?t care about the deeper meanings of a film you have not seen, you want me to explain what its about and my opinions on it? Well I?m not going to go into more detail (with regards to the story) because that could potentially spoil the whole film for you. That is how highly I rate this film. One of the things that make this film so appealing is the acting; now anyone who has read my previous reviews will know I haven?t been particularly critical when it comes to acting. (A fact I learnt with my Batman Begins review) but the quality of performance in this film cannot be criticised. The acting, and emotion displayed by all the characters (even the extras) is of the highest order.
Tim Robbins does an outstanding job as Andy Dufrense, at first he appears still and uneasy, but as a Morgan Freeman overview points out ? he is supposed to appear like that; he?s just been given a double life-sentence! Robbins does an excellent job of making the audience care about his character; particularly important in a film such as this one. As just mentioned, Morgan Freeman plays ?Red? ? ?the man who has been known to locate certain things?. He gives a truly amazing performance, from laughing at a joke told by Heywood, to feeling depressed as he realises a harsh reality about prison life. Morgan does a particularly grand job of getting emotions from viewers.
As mentioned, all extras do a fantastic job of bringing each character a unique personality, slipping in a back-story to even the least important characters. Other noteworthy performances include that of William Saddler (Heywood), Gil Bellows (Tommy, a man who knows the truth behind Andy?s past) and Bob Grunton (Warden Norton) ? who?s performance excels that even of Robbins; Grunton?s character, a corrupt Warden who hides behind religion, is executed perfectly. The Shawshank Redemption was filmed in Mansfield, Ohio, and the prison used is Ohio state reformatory ? a large Gothic building. The set is superb ? setting the tone well. The music is also well done; composed by Thomas Newman and was nominated for an Oscar. He has produced great music for recent blockbusters such as Wall-E and Revelation Road. You may think I?m heaping too much praise on this film, after all the premise sounds corny, over-done, clichéd. Yet it has a unique charm about it that has made so many people watch it. The message of hope and inspiration is one many people can enjoy and take away.
Despite not winning a single Oscar (although being nominated for 7 certainly heightened the films popularity) and being received terribly by critics at the time (a film portraying Hope?) this film has emerged to become one of the all time greats.
A must watch.
as I really didn't know the critics panned it.