Year:
1994
Studio:
Columbia Pictures/
Castle Rock
Entertainment
Feature:
4/5
DVD:
4/5
The Shawshank Redemption
is a very good movie. Taking place over the course of 20 years in a
prison, it is a story about friendship and hope. Tim Robbins plays Andy
Dufresne, conviected to two life terms for murdering his wife and her
lover. Once in prison Dufresne befriends Red Redding (Morgan Freeman),
who has been in the prison for twenty years already.
There is a certain community in prison. The guards form one group,
various inmate cliques form other groups. Dufresne is a different sort
of spirit. He was a banker, he interested in geology, he doesn't let
the prison system get to him. And over the years he makes changes in
the prison. He establishes a library and helps other inmates get their
high school diplomas.
But all is not well (besides the whole prison bit). Dufresne is
enlisted by Warden Samuel Norton (Bob Gunton) to keep the books for his
crooked operations (mostly embezzlement). The warden's right hand man,
Captain Hadley (Clancy Brown) is particularly vicious and keeps the
prisoners in check.
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Eventually
after 20 years, Dufresne has had enough and makes his
escape. But the movie is not quite over because there is still
Dufresne's great friendship with Red. The ending is good although it
was more than what was called for in the original script. But I'm glad
they made that addition.
The DVD includes commentary by Writer/Director Frank Darabont. Disk 2
has several features:
1. Hope Springs Eternal: A Look Back at "The Shawshank Redemption" (30
minutes).
2. Shawshank: The Redeeming Feature (47 minutes).
3. The Charlie Rose Show with Frank Darabont, Tim Robbins, and Morgan
Freeman (42 minutes).
4. The Sharktank Redemption (25 minutes) -- an amateur spoof.
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