Rating

A

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Amazing Acting
  • Superb Narration
  • Wonderful Story

The Shawshank Redemption (DVD)

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Summary

Nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Film and Best Actor, The Shawshank Redemption is a modern classic, an extraordinary tale of hope, friendship and survival inside a maximum security prison.

Description

"The Shawshank Redemption", based on the novel by Stephen King, is a movie about patients, time and life in prison for two inmates, Red (Morgan Freeman; Se7en) and Andy (Tim Robbins; Mystic River) who are both serving life sentences. Along the way, they become great friends.

At the beginning, we see Red, who also narrates the film. He is the man in prison you want to know, especially if you want things that you normally couldn't get: cigarettes, reefer, whiskey and other various items. Red's narration is very important to the film's feel, telling the audience the routine in Shawshank, various things about the prisoners, ect. At the beginning, he and his buddies are all watching as the guards unload a bus of prisoners. Each man is taking bets on who will be the first man to cry when lights are out. Red bets some cigarettes on Andy, as he does look as if he couldn't hack it. But when someone else breaks down and cries, Red loses his bet - - but, ultimately gains an important friendship.

Andy is a man of strong character: seems to be able to break his determination or his spirit. Like Red narrates in one scene, "he was strolling around without a care in the world." Not long after Andy goes to Shawshank, he finds a purpose, he find something to keep him mind occupied. He makes friends quickly and finds a way to cope with the way of prison life.

The main lesson in the film is, you can always have hope and no matter how hard things might get, no one can break a man's spirit. This is one of my all time favorite films and if you haven't seen it yet, I suggest you do so immediately. It's one of the most impressive films I've ever seen - - not from a big cast, special effects or even direction, but from how it tugs at the strings of your heart.


DVDFREAK007

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