The Shawshank Redemption - 1994
Quick Summary
Red, a lifer, and Andy Dufresne, a kindly banker unjustly convicted of murder, form an unexpected friendship that will last more than twenty years. Together, they discover hope as the ultimate means of survival. Under terrifying conditions and the ever-present threat of violence, the two lifers reclaim their souls and find freedom in their hearts.
My Thoughts
In 1999, Frank Darabont directed The Green Mile, a prison drama adapted from a Stephen King short story. This was also the case with The Shawshank Redemption, made a few years earlier on the same theme, and also adapted from a Stephen King short story.
As he would later do with The Green Line, Frank Darabont manages never to bore the viewer for more than two hours. Despite the fact that most of the story takes place in the prison, there are few distractions, but there's never a dull moment.
We quickly fall in love with the characters, so well played by Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins. In particular, we feel a great deal of empathy for the character of Andy Dufresne, unjustly convicted and ultimately spending some twenty years in prison for nothing. Other inmates in Red's gang are also good friends to whom we become attached, and are also very well acted.
The script is very well written, and combined with Darabont's exceptional direction, makes the two-hour film go by very quickly. The script even has a surprise in store for us at the end, anticipated from the outset.
This film deals with several subjects. On the one hand, the situation of inmates in prison, who are sometimes not even considered as human beings. Secondly, the importance of hope. It's quite astonishing to see that a film like this, where the characters are constantly locked within four walls, manages to tackle important themes and deliver life messages so easily.
The narration is one of the special features of this work. While Tim Robbins plays the main character, it's Morgan Freeman who narrates the story. We follow Andy Dufresne, but from Red's point of view. This allows us to take a different approach to the story and the main character than in other films.
To Watch or Not to Watch
I absolutely recommend this masterpiece, in which everything is right: the script, the direction and the narration. All in all, a film that manages to convey emotion while tackling important themes and being interesting.