MIDDLE-AGED MATINEE! #39 - 'The Shawshank Redemption' (1994)

5/5 Stars

Over the years since I’ve been writing film reviews, people have asked me from time to time what my favorite film is of all the movies that I’ve seen. They’re a little surprised when I have to put no thought into the question. The answer is and always will be “The Shawshank Redemption” from 1994.

The movie was a box office disappointment when it was initially released, so like many others, I discovered it on home video on one Friday evening when dad and I rented the movie. Something magical happened when I watched the movie as I was genuinely taken away by director Frank Darabont’s adaptation of the Stephen King short story, “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption”.

I loved everything about this story that follows a man who is imprisoned after being wrongly persecuted for the murder of his wife. What follows is a story about one man’s hope against all the odds that are stacked against him.

The man in question is Tim Robbins’ Andy Dufresne, a former banker who eventually befriends another inmate, Ellis “Red” Redding (Morgan Freeman), a man who is known to get things from the outside from time to time for other inmates. Unfortunately, Andy also has to deal with the more corrupt agents of the prison including vile prison guards, other inmates, and the absolutely corrupt Samuel Norton (Bob Gunton).

Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman star in 'The Shawshank Redemption'!

Through it all, though, Andy finds a way to cope with prison life and even make a few changes such as getting funding for a new library. The story’s biggest theme at the center is simple: hope. People like Red feel like hope is a dangerous thing considering their situation but Andy thinks that in prison, hope is the greatest thing that one can have in order to survive.

While the story is great, the direction from Darabont is absolutely perfect. Along with cinematographer Roger Deakins, Darabont succeeds at creating a bleak prison setting yet somehow there is a sense that there is hope to be found in this godforsaken place.

Then there are the performances. Firstly, Robbins has to carry this film on his shoulders and does a magnificent job as Andy. You feel all the emotions he goes through, yet he also has that certain glint in his eye as though he’s telling you directly that he knows more than he’s letting on.

Another actor of note is Gunton as Warden Norton. There have not been that many antagonists in the history of film that are as nasty as this terrible human being who loves to claim that he’s a hard working man of the community and a man of God. It could have been easy to make him a cartoon villain, but Gunton never pushes him too far and even plays Norton as a man who has convinced himself that the despicable things he’s done have just and righteous reasons.

Bob Gunton is the face of evil as Warden Norton in 'The Shawshank Redemption'!

Then there is Freeman as Red. Not only is Red one of the main characters, he’s also the character who guides us through the movie with Freeman’s smooth narration. He also has a great running subplot.

Red is the only man who readily admits that he’s guilty of the crime he committed and truly remorseful for what he’s done. There are a series of scenes where he has to meet with the parole board in order to be released. At first, what he tells them is well rehearsed with a big smile on his face as he tells them what he thinks they want to hear.

In subsequent scenes, though, he begins to break down and soon, the bullshit is put to the side and he just tells them what he really thinks. It’s a remarkable performance from Freeman that should have gotten him all the awards at the time.

The fact is this is a movie that with every viewing, I feel like I’m watching it for the very first time. I sometimes used to go to sleep watching movies because they would help me get to sleep. I put this movie on one night and instead of falling asleep, I sat up and watched the whole damn thing.

I know that the movie is on several people’s list as their favorite movie and there is a good reason for that. For me, it is simply the best movie that I’ve ever seen and I don’t see that changing any time soon.