The Shawshank Redemption
Starring
Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman
Rating
Rating within genre
Rated
R for violence and adult language
Directed by
Frank Darabont
Written by
Frank Darabont
Genre
Criminal drama
Film
Color; 2 hr. 22 min.
Date of Release
1994
Filming Locations
Yuma, AZ (USA)
Mansfield, OH (USA)
Upper Sandusky, OH (USA)
Virgin Islands
Synopsis
An innocent man is convicted of double homicide and sentenced to serve two consecutive life sentences. In the blink of an eye he's thrown from a safe work of banking to the harsh life of prison. But even in the darkness of conspiracy he manages to find hope and inspire those around him. Even when they murder the only man that could have gotten him out.
Summary
'Shawshank' is one of the most amazing movies of all time. The plot is beautiful and the characters portrayed by Robbins and Freeman are absolutely amazing. It's a touching film that's intense and nearly insuperable within its genre. In my opinion the only prison flick that matches up to it is 'The Green Mile' which is also by Darabont. I can't go into depth about this fantastic movie, but I'm telling you to get your ass out and see it if you haven't yet had the pleasure.
Notable Quotes
"I have no idea to this day just what those two Italian ladies were singing about. Truth is, I don't want to know." -- Red
"It's my life! Don't you understand me? It's my life!!" -- Andy
"Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane." -- Red
"I'm a convicted murderer who provides sound financial planning." -- Andy
"You're gonna look real funny sucking my dick with no teeth." -- Guard Captain Hadley
"Get busy living...or get busy dying." -- Andy
Reviews
Stygian Films: "It's a brilliant film that should have taken away the '94 Academy Awards. An absolute masterpiece!"
Roger Ebert: "Shawshank, which
absorbs us and takes away the awareness that we are watching a film..."
TIME Magazine: "He [Darabont] makes you feel the
maddening pace of prison time without letting his picture succumb to it. He is also efficient and clever with secondary characters
like James Whitmore's con librarian, who's been in so long he can't survive on the outside."
James Berardinelli: (3.5 out of 4 stars) "The Shawshank Redemption is all about hope and, because of that, watching it is both
uplifting and cathartic."
Film Rater Weekly: "Truly one of the greatest movies of all time, Shawshank takes you inside of a hellish life and brings hope. It's touching and smart, and worth seeing again and again."
Cast List
Tim Robbins.................Andy Dufresne
Morgan Freeman..........Red
Bob Gunton.................Sam Norton (warden)
William Sadler..............Heywood
Clancy Brown..............Byron Hadley (captain of the guards)
James Whitmore...........Brooks Hatlen
Mark Rolston...............Bogs
Gil Bellows...................Tommy
Jeffrey DeMunn............Prosecuting lawyer
Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
Also recommended
The Green Mile
Sleepers
True Crime
Picture credit to Ultimate Shawshank Redemption and The Shawshank Redemption Tribute - both very good sites to check out.