Two imprisoned men bond over a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency.
Once in a great while, a movie comes along that sort of sneaks in under the radar, underperforms miserably at the box office, and yet despite such ignominious origins, slowly builds a following and becomes a beloved treasure. Such is the case with “The Shawshank Redemption.” Over the years, it has attained a classic status that rivals “Casablanca,” “Citizen Kane,” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Originally entitled “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption,” the Stephen King novella represents perhaps the best screen adaptation of any of his many works.
Without a doubt, it is the friendship between Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) and Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding (Morgan Freeman) that underpins this compelling story of two prison inmates who become kindred spirits during the course of nearly twenty years. Freeman’s narration adds just the right amount of detail and gravitas to fill in the blanks of this otherwise visually compelling work.
While the strength of the two leads is undeniable, the supporting cast is equally formidable. Standouts include Bob Gunton as Warden Norton, Clancy Brown as Captain Hadly, William Sadler as Heywood, James Whitmore as Brooks Hatlen, Brian Libby as Floyd, and Gil Bellows as Tommy.
“The Shawshank Redemption” regularly finds itself in the top five greatest movies of all time according to numerous rankings. Yet nowhere to be found across its two-plus hour runtime are explosions, martial arts sequences, car chases, or climactic shoot-outs. Rather, audiences are treated to an engaging plotline, deep character development, pathos, inspiration, and above all, hope.
Garnering seven Academy Award nominations, incredibly it walked away with none. Still, the Academy would later reward Freeman, Robbins, and Roger Deakins (twice, for cinematography) with coveted Oscars for their efforts in other productions.
The special features include interviews with the cast and crew during the initial shooting, and then again a few years later – both of which lend insight and charm to the package. In particular, it’s nice to see Bob Gunton and Clancy Brown – who played exceptionally convincing villains in the story – reminisce pleasantly about their time on location, and in the wake of the film’s belated success.
Though preview screenings of “Shawshank” were highly enthusiastic, the motion picture nevertheless bombed at the box office largely because it was perceived as a downer prison movie. Only in the afterlife of video rentals spurred by enthusiastic word of mouth did the film gain its strong and enduring following.
Something about prison movies makes audiences wary. The confinement, the closed spaces, the dreary surroundings that would seem to limit the action, the ability to induce surprise apparently lost. Nothing could be further from the truth. Though the title “The Shawshank Escape” might have attracted larger audiences, it not only would have given too much away, it would also have also missed the point.
Early scenes capture one’s attention, but in lesser hands, the extended story could have fizzled or lacked a satisfactory denouement. Happily, Frank Darabont’s direction in “Shawshank” is as flawless as it comes. Not a wasted sequence, not a word of unnecessary dialog – all of the individual pieces simply come together to form an impeccable whole. From a pensive, thoughtful beginning, the narrative takes its time, building deliberately like a great concert piece, culminating in a momentous crescendo that sweeps audiences off their feet. It’s an experience that only improves with repeated viewings.
As Salieri (F. Murray Abraham) in “Amadeus” says while describing the exquisiteness of one of Mozart’s compositions, “Displace one note and there would be diminishment. Displace one phrase and the structure would fall.” Few productions can compare to the precision and timelessness that “Shawshank” brings to the table – an awe-inspiring journey into the soul of man that celebrates the power of movies rarely seen. A delight in every way and not to be missed.
Now available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital
