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December 27, 2010

Shawshank Redemption (1994)


How many of you have not watch Forrest Gump yet? I figured not much, except you who was born in 1994. I never put Forrest Gump in the blog because I know everybody knows it. I still love it 'til now. Tom Hanks was remarkable. They probably want to make the remake of it by now.

Read the plot summary here.


I read that Shawshank Redemption was out in theater in the same year with Forrest Gump, and was less popular. Oscars somehow loved Forrest Gump more, the movie grab many awards from many nominations, including from Shawshank Redemption (SR). But SR now is the number one movie in IMDB's Top 250 movies ever. It's been calculated from 500.000 votes, while Forrest Gump is number 34 (The result could change depend on votes). There were a lot of other linkages from both movies. Tom Hanks was even considered to play as Andy, but turn it down because he was committed to Forrest Gump. Read more here.



Watching it somehow I felt that it was from a novel, because of the details, natural law, the long duration and the clever storyline. It was adapted from Stephen King novel, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. It was stated that Stephen King sold the movie cheap because of his friendship with Frank Darabot, the screenplay writer who also made another movie based on King's short story, The Woman in The Room.





For me, the movie has a rich value of life lesson. One in particular was getting out from comfort zone. Jail become a stricted place where convicted crime feel safe from society's judgement (quote : everybody's innocent here). They learn to survive there and made friends. Out of that place, suddenly they feel thrown out to bizarre freedom, afraid of a new place in the world, out of hope and stranded.

Hope is another big thing to be told about in the movie. Red (Morgan Freedom) is desperate of seeking freedom, after failing to receive parole after serving a lot of years in jail. Andy (Tim Robbins) somehow trapped in his own 'good deed' to jail officials. But Andy has an incredible mind set and energy to climb out from jail. This jail means both in reality and mind. So the law convicted someone guilty, but only related individual knows the truth. One's self will power determined his own path.

As usual, Morgan Freeman gave an excellent impression. His deep voice as narrator in the movie gave a credit. I enjoyed seeing his friendship with Andy. Along with other, they shared a bond together surviving inside prison. Morgan as a contraband, smuggling Andy a rock hammer and big poster of Rita Hayworth. A little spoiler (doesn't count), in the end inside of Andy's walls cell is filled with these posters.

There were a lot of things to be learn from Andy. His generosity to his jail friends, exchanging banking tips to beer for his jail mates, creating library in prison after two years sending letters to state funders. Giving something good to others always comes back in a good thing too. His brilliant skills in banking helps a lot to survive. I think he has a big will power to live freely. After all, isn't it all it takes to live?






2 comments:

Chris said...

I love prison films, and this one especially. If ever there was an inspiring movie, this is it! Like you say, SR also has some great voice-over /depictions of friendship, Morgan freeman repeated this in Million dollar baby, and in The Bucket List.

Andina said...

He has a strong voice character, so wise and deep. The movie definitely inspiring, a must see. I don't know why I never heard of this movie until recently. Probably Forrest Gump's popularity covers it.