The Shawshank Redemption

I get a lot of crap for several films that are on my list of movies that I've yet to see. Of course I'll always get the, "Oh have you seen THIS film yet?" for nearly any movie that someone holds dear, but there are a few that people seem flabbergasted that I haven't seen yet.

I gotta say, I don't blame them.

One of those films just so happens to be this one. The Shawshank Redemption is one that I've never seen before, despite having seen it on numerous "Best Films of All Time" lists and pretty much unanimous praise.

Finally, after a recent business trip where I received my fair share of flak, I decided to get this black mark off my resume once and for all.

It ended up being a great decision, although the combined, "OMG you haven't seen it yet?!" statements built it up for some inevitable over-excitement. But all in all I was treated and delighted to partake in viewing this extremely well made, well acted, and well told story about a man trying to achieve his freedom. 

"What happened to your career, man?"

For those who have also yet to see it (it really is worth the watch), it tells the story of a man, Andy (Tim Robbins) whom is wrongfully accused of murdering his wife and her lover and sentenced to life in prison. The sentence comes with a decent amount of actual evidence, but the motivation was there and Robbins does a phenomenal job with displaying the awkwardness of Andy; a man who shows little emotion and has several quirks. The majority of the film takes place within the prison walls where Andy resides for several decades and befriends numerous inmates, including Red (Morgan Freeman). Throughout his stay it becomes obvious that the leadership of the prison is corrupt and it leads to several dramatic moments. The plot is simple, but there are complexities in the relationships that add to the drama and it has a fascinating ending that is both a "twist" but also well deserved. Unfortunately, I pretty much already knew the final ending and that dulled my experience significantly, but I enjoyed the ride and even the destination quite a bit regardless. 

"Where is my shirt?!"

Many of the performances in the film are outstanding, with Freeman giving not only fantastic voice-over narration, but a solid on-screen performance that is one of the best I've seen from him. Andy is a man with a lot of hardships, both outside and inside prison. He is a prisoner in several senses of the word and parts of his tale are heartbreaking. Robbins does fantastic here and it's a performance that will be remembered through the ages. The supporting cast, many of whom were fun to recognize in an early 1990's movie, is stellar and I'd have a hard time really picking the weak link. 

"Under this rock? Nope. This one? Nope.
What about this one? Nope..."

The film boasts a very well-written script that, while R-rated, isn't overly so. The story's progression is also very well designed, with periods of time passing with ease, but somehow we always know when/what is going on. I'd say that a few subplots take up a little too much time but otherwise this is a brisk film that will hold your attention easily. I also really enjoyed the original score (although I didn't find it as tear-provoking as I'd been led to believe) and the cinematography was well done too. 

I can see how The Shawshank Redemption ranks on many "Best of All Time" lists. I don't see it breaking into many short lists that I hold, but that's most likely my own fault for knowing too much beforehand and dulling what was most likely an amazing and emotional cinematic experience during the 90s. 

Even despite that however, Shawshank still packs an emotional punch, but more importantly it sets out to tell a really good, captivating story and it does so really, really well. 

CONS:

• I'd argue that a few of the sub-plots or smaller plot points get too much screen time
• As much as I liked the ending, I though it was a tad (just a tad!) corny
• How'd he hang the poster on his way out?

PROS:

• It tells a highly captivating tale of a man seeking his freedom after being wrongfully imprisoned. At times it's heartbreaking, others it's funny, and eventually uplifting. It easily holds your attention the entire runtime
• Tim Robbins gives probably his best performance and Freeman does as well. Solid acting by all parties
• Great job at capturing the early-mid 1900 era
• Although I knew too much, the ending is pretty fantastic and almost begs for a second viewing
• Solid cinematography
• Features a really great script
• Strong original score
• Truly a solid film in nearly every sense of the word. I can see how it ranks high on many peoples' lists

Retro Rath's Review Score: 9.5/10