RojoThe Shawshank Redemption
Ok so the month of top ten’s is coming rather slow. I should just stop listening to people as I always get really good movies to add to whatever list I say I’m compiling. So I will just take this moment t talk about a movie that I have watched about four times this last month, a master piece, the best adaptation from a Stephen King novel possibly ever, a film that had my girl friend come home in the middle of and want to talk about her day (bane of the female, no offence ladies, but after ten hours in a kitchen a man just wants to come home and have a beer and let the TV do his thinking). And had me say, “baby you just got to shhhsss and watch this“, she was hooked within two minutes.
The Shaw shank Redemption is a film that lays a lump in my throat when I think about Andy Dufresne. As an actor in training we learn to have things in our minds to help us emote. There are times when I have to enter into a scene I wouldn’t say on the verge of tears but well, pretty “emotional”. I use this film for times as such.
Now I have already stated that I do love the story of one man’s struggle, and this is a struggle, struggle doesn’t even cover it. Andy, wrongly convicted is a lovable hero as is Morgan Freeman as his buddy. You have no chose but to like both men after the conversation
“Hey red, why do they call you Red”?
“I don’t know, I guess it’s because I’m Irish”.
Andy’s fight with the sisters, continually getting raped doesn’t detract from him, nor make me pity him, it makes me admire his resolve, the fact he keeps fighting them till finally Clancy Brown beats the dog shit of the leader, a stellar moment that has me laughing mechanically at this poetic twist of justice.
Then there’s the parts of the plot that makes this film a master piece. Andy’s winning over the guards and how he uses his position for the benefit of the other prisoners, not to curry their favour but as Red puts it if only to feel normal, the beers on the roof, the setting up of the library, and one of the best scenes in the film, Andy hi-jacking the PA system to play opera to the prison, he knows he will get a beat down, he knows he will have to work to get back his position with the establishment, but he also knows what it would do for the prisoners. Andy attempts to give them a slice of piece, of calm, of his world, throw a bit of culture and serenity into a world of savageness and this is the result, stunned hard men, frozen in peace, together as one they listen, they are freed, because of Andy.
Andy continues to “free” the prisoners with his philosophies and actions till finally he shows them why they should have hope. Andy’s escape or his “rebirth” the zenith of the film and the illustration of Andy’s hope pulling him through the tunnel of shit, till he is re-born on the other side.
If I were going to rate in order I would have this around number one, possible equal with Cool Hand Luke, but if for some reason, some miracle you haven’t seen this film I suggest you get off you’re chair get down to a video store and rent it. If you have, the next time you are doing a 5 for 10 or what ever deal you get at you’re local video store throw this in.
8.5/10
unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
Check this out...
Flick Wit
Michaelie
BTW, Fisherman James, I'm going to wrench a really long comment out of you ones of these days, see if I don't!
Movies and Life
Fantastic review