„ The Shawshank Redemption” is an adaptation of Stephen King bestseller “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption ». A film is directed by Frank Darabont and the main characters are played by Tim Robbins (Andy Dufresne), Morgan Freeman (Red) (both excellent performers!), Bob Gunton, William Sadler and Clancy Brown.
It is one of the most popular movies of all time. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Morgan Freeman), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Original Score, and Best Sound - but it failed to win a single Oscar (only because of a very strong competition – “Forrest Gump”).
“The Shawshank Redemption” is a moving, human and inspiring story of hope, friendship and courage. Even though most of the scenes are taking place in prison, this engrossing story has incredibly warm atmosphere.
The film starts off with the familiar brutality of a prison movie. Convicted in the late 1940s for the murder of his wife and her lover, banker Tim Robbins is thrown into the prison at Shawshank for two life sentences.
How an introverted, a soft-spoken loner with an interest in reading, chess and rock carving can survive in a prison – an awful place packed with thieves, rapists and murderers? A place run by sadistic warden who likes beating prisoners to death, enthusiastically supported by guards, who enjoys a regular round of assault? With inmates willing to use rape or beatings to insure their dominance? For twenty years or so???
But Robbins is emotionally protected by his major force - innocence. Despite the hardships he charms everyone and eventually uses his banking skills to win favour with the warden and the guards who by the end are eating out of his hand. He never loses hope and he is even able to restore the hope even in “institutionalized” friend -Red.
Don’t be afraid - I am not going to present the whole plot. You have to watch it. The only thing - I can assure you that the director Frank Darabont will engrossed you till the end.
I do really enjoy this film and in fact – no surprise - it becomes my favourite one. Powerful and thought-provoking. Some of his character's wise statements really made me think about life in a different way. And finally – irresistibly uplifting. It has an emotional but also a comical side to it. I do really like the ironic humour used in the film (a man quietly turning a corrupt system against itself!?)
I highly recommend watching it. It is worthwhile and I promise - you never forget it!
