Movie quick summery:
Convicted in the late 1940s for the murder of his wife and her lover, banker played by Tim Robbins is thrown into jail at the Shawshank penitentiary in Maine for two consecutive life sentences. In prison he meets and befriends another lifer, played by Morgan Freeman, who teachs him how to survive in prison.
The Good:1. The movie has excellent acting, excellent cinematography, and great music. Its one of those roller coasters of emotion movies that in the end leaves you feeling good.
2. One of the best book to film transitions ever.
Stephen King's may be best known for his horror writing but this is not horror. The movies success starts with the brilliant Steven King novel that it was based on ""Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption"". You can find the novella in a 1982 King collection, ""Different Seasons"", along with a story, ""The Body,"" that became the basis for the another top notch movie the1986 smash ""Stand by Me"".
3. It celebrates the triumph of the human spirit.
The Bad:
1. Bad title.
2. It is a prison melodrama, and it does contain violence, and suggest some horrible things - so if your not into that be forewarned...but at the same time it also contains almost no action.
It's not a simple feel good movie- there is a good deal of brutality in it. As one of the characters explains: " this is no fairy tale world."
3. Some critics have felt that the movie is a little too sentimental, and a little two long (142 minutes).
It is about a 20 year friendship between two men in a prison (in my opinion). In telling that story the narrative highlights the memorable moments. The film is also about long-term imprisonment. The movie is not driving towards it's conclusion. A lot happens, and the film just seems to amble confidently along like the film's main character. The conclusion comes about as just another story among other stories. The story teller just saves the best story for last.
The Bottom Line:
It can be as much a spiritual experience as it is a simple movie.
I remember reading a review about the movie when it came out where the reviewer was upset that the ending was too clarified.WOW - I found it- Washington Post September 23, 1994: "" And leave it to pandering, first-time director Frank Darabont to ensure no audience member leaves this film unsure of the ending. Heaven forbid a movie should end with a smidgen of mystery!"
No one I have ever talked to has felt that way about this movie- just the opposite, they have theorized about what this film means ...is it an disguised story of Jesus?...a simple tale of friendship?...a tale of corruption?...a lecture on faith and 'holding on'?...or is the main character not who we think it to be for 3/4 of the film? ... and what really is the redemption?
Extra Information:
The film was nominated for 7 Academy Awards (including best picture), 2 Golden Globes, USA, 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Grammy Awards - and didn't win any.
The original movie did not do well in theaters. But once released on video it became recognized. The Wall Street Journal ran an article about how the video version ""Shawshank"" groundswell in April 1999, at the time it was occupying first place in the Internet Movie Database worldwide vote of the 250 best films; it's usually in the top five.
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Director: Frank Darabont
Writers: Stephen King (short story "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption"), Frank Darabont (screenplay)
Stars: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman and Bob Gunton
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