Do check out Karma Calling’s new twist to this meme with her Comprehensive Geek Guide to Movies.
S
The Shawshank Redemption
Fear can hold you prisoner, hope can set you free.
A movie described as a ‘prison drama’ with a weird, difficult-to-pronounce name, no action sequences, and running for two and a half hours. Further: no romance or love story, no heroine, no special effects, and no celebrity stars. Such a movie can hardly be expected to become popular. Yet, The Shawshank Redemption has more or less remained #1 on IMDB’s Top 250 films chart for over a decade. Why? Why have 400,000+ viewers rated it at the top and over 2000 users taken the time to write a review for it just at one website?
Nominated for 7 Academy Awards but winning none, the movie was underrated by most self-proclaimed critics, many of whom still dismiss it as a ‘popular feel-good’ movie with an improbable storyline. Their critical analysis focuses on exposing flaws, seeing the trees and missing the forest. Ultimately, The Shawshank Redemption works like music – the more times you watch and get familiar with it, the more you love it. Not many films share this unique trait.
This is the story of two imprisoned men, developing a bond over years of friendship, finding salvation and redemption. It is an inspiring story of hope and courage. The movie is an uplifting, spiritual experience, and that is the forest, and why this film has topped popularity charts in these times of fear, ‘threat levels’ and despair lurking beneath our everyday lives.
Frank Darabont, a first-time director, does not flinch from the nasty things that take place inside prisons. The cinematography by Roger Deakins (a Cohen brothers favorite) builds the lifeless life and drab existence in the prison. Despite this, it is not a dark film, in fact, it has its emotional payoff moments, humor, as well as a cathartic finale. From the quiet dignity exuded by Tim Robbins as the hero (Andy) and the beautiful narration and excellent performance by Morgan Freeman (‘Red’) as his buddy, to the entire supporting cast of Bob Gunton (the evil warden), James Whitmore (the old-timer Brooks), Clancy Brown (the sadistic guard), Gil Bellows (the young prisoner) – the performances are all first-rate.
I have following observations to add:
- Though set in prison, the film does not focus on the violence and hopelessness of life behind prison bars, but the opposite.
- The film is not seen from the hero’s point of view. This is pure genius and works subconsciously like a charm, because the hero continues to remain an enigmatic wonder to us.
- The character of the hero is conventionally established in films by a heroic or dramatic act or entry. Here, the hero is established ‘dramatically’ by the way he strolls in a carefree fashion inside prison.
- Our hero does not express any intense emotions for the most part of the film, but Tim Robbins is not under-acting. It is the character of Andy, beautifully built up by Robbins.
- The violent abuse and suffering of Andy is not shown closely, but from a distance. There is no pretentious or clichéd attempt to dwell on physical bruises or psychological wounds. Instead, Darabont makes us give space to Andy, like his fellow-inmates, thus building the character. This is remarkable story-telling.
- Meticulous attention to each sub-plot. Darabont is deliberate and thoughtful. This leisurely pace of the film is essential to the story, but was a great risk from a Hollywood box-office perspective.
- Simple, profound lines. “Salvation lies within.” “Put your trust in the Lord; your ass belongs to me. Welcome to Shawshank!” “Get busy living or get busy dying.”
- The grandest, most crowd-pleasing, heroic act performed by Andy is playing a Mozart aria to the prisoners in defiance of the authorities. The point is – this is no grand epic, no great action-adventure, but a simple drama that evokes epic emotions because it has connected the hero with our hearts deeply.
- To the critics who decry the drawn-out ending, I’d like to point out that the film was actually supposed to end with the shot of ‘Red' going away in the bus. It was the studio that insisted on a more emotionally gratifying closing sequence leading to the magnificent ocean scene. The result is there to see in the IMDB rank!
- This is a beautiful example of adapting a novel to a film. Note the subtle ways in which the story in Stephen King’s novella was adapted for the movie.
- Red’s parole hearing three times in the movie beautifully segments the film into three parts.
- The prison walls are felt all throughout the movie. Yet their imposing presence is shown in only two shots at the beginning – the magnificent opening helicopter shot and the walls looming overhead.
- The movie did not win any Oscars and was a failure at the box office. This movie did not make it big because of big-budget marketing. Instead, 5 years after it released, it became a phenomenon via the home video market and word of mouth. This is how social networking works.
- It usually takes multiple viewings to realize that the film, at its core, is more about Red than Andy.
Well, this is again examining the trees, if anyone is so inclined. For me, I enjoy the forest.
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Excellent write up again!! I learnt some new things about the film from your analysis. The film is so beautifully executed from the start that there is not a single moment which looks drawn. Very very optimistic film without ever becoming sermonic.
I am simply amazed at your critique. How do you remember such detail? I simply can’t, which is why your critiques are far more informative and enjoyable. So, yes, I enjoyed the movie too!
and thanks for linking to my meme
wow enjoyed ur writeup
i was expecting a shinchin but hey, for me it would be too difficult to take a call on which one is better
both are superb and have seen them more than a half dozen times
ps
saw ikiru and am impressed… thanks for the tip
shawshank reminds me of roja, and how it picked up
even Tim Robbins gt the role accidentally and boy he did act brilliantly
Hi Mahendra,
When I read the S preface, I didn’t realize that the winners were not included in that post. I thought that you were going to choose the winners from the movies mentioned in that post. So really sorry for jumping the gun with all the recommendations.
Your reviews and observations show how deeply you have studied the movies. Really impressive.
You will love ‘The Shining’. The use of camera angles and the music make even simple scenes very thrilling.
Anand
I don’t know how I came to this wirte –up, but I enjoyed it . Thanks.
You have put the film in a beautiful light . This is one of the best films ever.
This remains my favorite movie till date. The end still give me goosebumps.
Very well written review. The more I read about this movie, the more I want to read.
Fabulous post! Enjoyed reading your post as much as I did watching the movie again and again and again.
Thanks! I’m delighted you liked the write up…that’s a big pat on my shoulder coming from you!
I am humbled by your kind words. Actually, if you see, there is not much detail here, just many different aspects of the movie that I’ve listed. I am not able to do this for every film, especially after only one or two viewings. (For e.g. see my write-up on 8 1/2, where you won’t find much detail, as I’ve not seen it many times). But with films like Shawshank, which I’ve seen at least a dozen times, it becomes easy.
Also, I mentioned in a comment-thread earlier on this blog somewhere (I think regarding Charulata), that with some of these great films, I focus on one aspect of the film-making in each repeat viewing. So I have seen films like Charulata and Shawshank once each for studying camerawork, music, art direction, acting, and so on. I think this helps tremendously in overall film-appreciation. This is the reason you find many movie-lovers saying “I learn something new every time I see it”.
Thank you for such a wonderful twist on the meme, which as I said, will be a good intro for sci-fi novices like me!
Thanks, Prax. It was difficult for me too. So I used the standard, clichéd test: if I were on a deserted island with only one out of the two…:-)
Great — I have some company with aficionados like you who have seen these films so many times! Feels good…:-)
You’re welcome. There are some who consider Ikiru to be his greatest. I believe there’s no objective standard to determine these things, it all depends on the personal subjective experience.
Oh, nothing like that…I may not have been clear in the post myself. No need to be sorry!
Thank you. Your participation and the interaction is the fuel! Appreciation is like icing on the cake for me!
Yes, The Shining is now added to our list…thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
When you feel like opening a nice bottle of wine and generally chilling out, suppliment it with a movie called ‘Sideways’
While I was having my morning tea (as you were typing this comment), I was wondering how I left out Sideways, since I like it and have it in my collection too!
What can I say — great minds think alike
Thanks! Yes…I get goosebumps with the aria scene too!
Re “more I read, more I want to read”: is that a classic “mashed musing?”
Especially great minds who like good wine!
me too
then again
this movie is like fine single malt scotch
(naver tasted it tough)
Thank you, Vignesh! Glad you enjoyed it.