The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

When this popular prison drama was released in 1994, some critics complained that the movie was too long (142 minutes) to sustain its story. Those complaints miss the point, because the passage of time is crucial to this story about patience, the squeaky wheels of justice, and the growth of a life-long friendship. Only when the film reaches its final, emotionally satisfying scene do you fully understand why writer-director Frank Darabont (adapting a novella by Stephen King) allows the story to unfold at its necessary pace, and the effect is dramatically rewarding. Tim Robbins plays a banker named Andy who's sent to Shawshank Prison on a murder charge, but as he gets to know a life-term prisoner named Red (Morgan Freeman), we realize there's reason to believe the banker's crime was justifiable. We also realize that Andy's calm, quiet exterior hides a great reserve of patience and fortitude, and Red comes to admire this mild-mannered man who first struck him as weak and unfit for prison life. So it is that The Shawshank Redemption builds considerable impact as a prison drama that defies the conventions of the genre (violence, brutality, riots) to illustrate its theme of faith, friendship, and survival. Nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Actor, and Screenplay, it's a remarkable film that signaled the arrival of a promising new filmmaker--a film that many movie lovers count among their all-time favorites. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com essential video

 Extremely Satisfying and Inspiring Masterpiece
It isn't always easy to find the words to describe a great film. It is just that every ten years or so there is a film that lifts me up and forces me to take a deeper look at some facet of my life, in this case an understanding of value for my own personal freedom. The Shawshank Redemption feels like a deeply personal film for me. It gets under my skin and by its conclusion I want to well up like a big baby no matter how many times I've seen it. I know that other people feel the same way I do about this film but I never approach them to ask why and I only sometimes decide to express a feeling like that in writing, like I am now. The Shawshank Redemption is one of those rare films that reflects something real enough that I can almost empathize with its characters for two hours, at least enough that I find a new respect for the life I have. After all, no murderer is only that. He or she is or was a son or daughter to someone; maybe a wife, a husband, a lover, or a best friend to others. That doesn't make anyone's crimes more or less forgivable, it just provides more than a one-dimensional perspective on such profound character dynamics. Redemption is a process by which the redeemed find enough comfort in whatever they have or whatever they've done that they can keep going again. But this is not just a film about some men gaining atonement for their guilt. It is far more than that; it is about survival and hope and I always feel a little sense of salvation myself every single time I watch it.

Directed by frequent Stephen King novel interpreter and outstanding screenwriter Frank Darabont (The Green Mile, The Mist), The Shawshank Redemption is a film that takes place in the late 1940s at Shawshank Prison in Maine. It follows two prisoners; Ellis Boyd Redding or "Red" (Morgan Freeman), who has long known of the accountability he has for his crimes and Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a quirky banker serving two consecutive life sentences for the murder of his wife and another man, crimes he did not commit. Andy is easy to root for as both an innocent man and a fish out of water. His ethics, his honesty, and his moral character are crucial elements to a story taking place in a world of such corruption and guilt. It is beautiful to watch and Robbins is so compelling. Freeman truly becomes the redeemed and in the end he can only find his sense of hope and freedom in the ways that an innocent man, perhaps unwittingly, inspired him.

This was actually not a huge hit in theaters and I didn't even see it until about three or four years after its initial release in 1994. It was nominated for seven Oscars but was overlooked due to Forrest Gump, a film I can do without. All of sudden it seems everyone is coming out of the woodwork to hail the Shawshank Redemption as one of the greatest films of all time. It is hard to see any film from the last twenty years or so on lists next to Citizen Kane or The Godfather, but I can't say it troubles me to see this particular film get so much credit. The movie is emotionally powerful enough that it almost feels like a relative or an old familiar friend up there getting a round of applause and all the credit in the world. I suppose I never expected anything less. April 14, 2008

 A very good movie
Very fantastique story .
It was with a great pleasure than I saw this movie.
And the most for me, there are french language and in my country, this DVD doesn't exist.
Donc pour ceux que cela interesse, le DVD est en français (non signalé lors de l'achat)il faut juste dézonner son lecteur pour le voir en france March 27, 2008

 MAINELY EXCELLENT
After so many positive reviews already written, some personal observations.In the first place one does not readily identify Shawshank with the state of Maine. Evidently, author King did.Perhaps his mind works better in his home state. Freeman and Robbins finally get out; the revenge factor against a corrupt establishment is the key theme to the movie. But, what of those who never get out? Next, the realism of the movie is abeted by its brutality scenes, pictures of which one would rather deny. One would also assume in 2008, the likelihood of such a scheme succeeeding would be next to impossible.Yet, reports of 3 million incarcerations at present in the USA makes one wonder. Finally, the movie is totally engrossing, leading to multiple viewings. The reason for this,I suspect,is probably different for every individual. Please take the time to mull over your reasoning. Please take time to mull over the "system". February 29, 2008

 Jail is slow time
Andy tunnled out of prison. without the guards findinding out how, it had to to wirh a rockhammer. February 5, 2008

 Shawshank Redemtion
If you love this movie as I do. Its nice to own and add to my
collection to view whenever I want. Great movie but it. February 1, 2008

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