THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
Sometimes, it takes some setbacks to appreciate life and The Shawshank Redemption taught me just that.
PLOT
Based on the Stephen King novella (Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption), the film starts in 1947. following banker Andrew Dufresne being sentenced to two life sentences for allegedly murdering his wife and her lover. He serves his sentence is Shawshank State Prison. He struggles to adapt to his new surroundings when being frequently sexual assaulted by fellow inmate Bogs and his gang 'The Sisters'. However, he does soon spark a friendship with another inmate named Ellis Redding aka Red, who is a contraband smuggler that's also serving a life sentence for murder. When they start talking to each other, Andy asks for a rock hammer and a Rita Hayworth poster, which he eventually receives. In '49, he gets in the good grace of guard captain Byron Hadley when offering to help him legally shelter his inheritance without being taxed. When he gets assaulted again by the Sisters, Hadley severely beats Bogs (Mark Rolston) in retaliation that the inmate gets transferred to another prison. From then on, Andy would never be attacked again from another inmate. He gets the attention of Warden Samuel Norton, who assigns him to work at the library and assist elderly inmate Brooks Hatlen. This would be a front for him to manage financial matters for himself, prison staff and other guards. This would then inspire Andy to write weekly letters to the state legislature, requesting funds to improve the prison library. Brooks would sadly take his life in '54, feeling unable to adjust to the outside world upon parole. When the legislature send another donation to the library that includes musical records, Andy gets himself in trouble by playing a recording of The Marriage of Figaro over the public address system. The punishment leads to him doing solitary confinement for two weeks. In '63, Norton would exploit prison labor for public works that would be profited by undercutting skilled labor costs and bribes. With Andy dealing with the warden's financial matters, he would secretly launder it under the alias 'Randall Stephens'. In '65, he and Red would befriend a man named Tommy Williams (Gil Bellows) who serves for burglary. Andy would be so kind to him that he helped him pass a GED. When Red converses with him of why Andy is serving, he shares to them both that he knew a cellmate at another prison that claims responsibility for the murder Andy's convicted for. He retails this to Norton, who dismisses it. But when he mentions the money laundering, Norton punishes him by giving him two months of solitary confinement. After having Hadley kill Tommy under the assumption of an escape attempt, he even threatens to take away Andy's privileges if he refuses to continue the laundering. After he's released from solitary confinement, Red grows worry when discovering he asked another inmate for a rope. Worry would only become relief when the next day, he is discovered to successfully escape from Shawshank with his life. Norton would discover that he dug through a tunnel with a rock hammer during his sentence, using his posters as cover. During the night of the escape, he used the rope to escape through the tunnel and sewage pipe. He would even take Norton's suit, shoes and ledger with proof of the laundering. As guards fail to find him, he poses as Randall Stephens to withdraw $370,000 of the laundered money from several banks, later mailing the ledger with evidence of Shawshank's corruption to a local newspaper. This results in state police arresting Hadley, but Norton takes his life to avoid arrested. The following year, Red is finally paroled after serving 40 years. He does struggle to adapt like Brooks felt, but remembers a promise he kept to Andy, to go to a hayfield near Buxton an retrieve a package Andy left behind. He finds the package containing money and a letter from Andy to join him in Zihuatanejo and work on opening a hotel as he dreamed. The film ends with Red violating his parole to cross the border and reunite with his friend.
THOUGHTS
I have seen this a film a handful of times and I haven't tired yet of its greatness. I think the reason this has grown to have such a strong mark in cinema because Writer/Director Frank Darabont gives an effective portrayal on the positive outcome one can have when remaining hopeful, even in the lowest of times. So if you're involved in moments the odds are stacked against you and you're certain you can't overcome it, that is all okay because keeping hope through it all can lead to a brighter tomorrow. It doesn't always work for anyone because they choose to put some doubt in between. If you choose to think that way, then your future won't go the way you plan it. When you combine Thomas Newman's score and Roger Deakins' cinematography, it is easy to feel moved of it all. I think that message is accurately depicted in the shoes of Andy Dufresne. Portrayed beautifully by Tim Robbins, this is a man that did not give up on his will to be free. He was placed in a place that can be identified as a living hell and after living through it for so long, he didn't get his pride destroyed. Everyday, he proved to be warm when the judge thought of him to be cold. Just seeing power through tribal & tribulation and being able to get the last laugh on his tormentors only proves how awesome it is when perseverance pays off. The second he's out of Shawshank and feels the rain pour down on him, it's hard to not be happy for him. When you identify prison as hell, you would think it'd be impossible to find a friend and luckily, it is common to do so because it can give you a chance to survive. For Andy, the best friend he could ever ask for happened to be Red. This is easily the best performance you're ever gonna get out of Morgan Freeman because he's the most remorseful character ever written. He knows he messed up and after already accepting it, he doesn't plan on building a better life. That perspective changes when he meets Andy because he taught him how special it is to believe in hope. Just seeing Andy overcome the odds was enough for him to make a change and keep his promise. And it's sweet knowing that they can start a future together as brand new together. The most tragic part of this movie will always be Brooks. James Whitmore accurately portrayed him as a man that felt misplaced in the world. He was the most nurturing guy in prison, but outside, he was so scared and alone that trying didn't feel enough for him. I don't condone him taking his life, but I do relate to the feeling of loneliness and it becomes more heartbreaking to know that nobody was able to save him. His story of struggle is exactly what Andy & Red are avoiding because they don't want to feel weak like he did. I'm sure had he not done what he did, he'd be proud of what the two were able to do in the end. In prison, you have roadblocks that will try to break you. This movie had the biggest roadblock duo ever that stank nothing but villainy. Both Bob Gunton and Clancy Brown respectively play Warden Norton and Captain Hadley as sadistic as you'd expect. These two abused their power every chance they had. They know they're bad and didn't care until they got caught. Seeing them meet the comeuppance once Andy was gone only proved that what goes around comes around. Again, I don't condone suicide at all, yet I know exactly why Norton did it. He bit the bullet because he knew well that he would not last long in any kind of cell. If he chose to live and had to carry a sentence in Shawshank, it would've an ironic hell for him. This film is greater than it should, but even I can admit there were moments that left me scratching my head when re watching. The shown evidence does look pretty bad on Andy, you can't argue with that. But what is so insane to think about is how his lawyer didn't further investigate the evidence. If there was evidence on the broken bottle, then they should've found some kind of fingerprint anywhere in the cabin because in that period, it's not like the killer is gonna be certain that Andy will get framed. And I'm surprised that Hadley is surprised of the commotion the prison gets at night of the 'fresh fish' trope. This should be something for the guards to be on alert about to control the commotion. Andy is indeed smarter than people realize, but he is crazy to win Hadley's trust by asking if he trusts his wife. He could've shot him if he had a gun for that remark. It is pretty surprising that Norton's random inspection is a ruse to recruit Andy to manage his financial matters, but if on a normal inspection, wouldn't the poster get taken down? The posters save his life throughout, but if the warden doesn't even approve of it, why didn't Andy pick a poster with a bible verse or something related to religion? It would feel less conspicuous that the warden would nod approval and move on. It's an epic 'fuck you' moment when Andy raises the volume of the record player, but he's gambling again because the records could've been taken away. Risking to lose something you just got that day is not the risk you want to make. I honestly don't blame Andy for telling Norton what Tommy told him, but if he really wanted to be double certain on procuring a new trial, he should have contacted outside counsel as well like the letters he sent to the state legislature. It's cute that Red keep his promise, but it felt like a hassle to remember. If Andy really wanted him to find the money, he could've set up a safe deposit box under 'Randall Stephens'. Other than that, you're still witnessing an incredible journey. In short, The Shawshank Redemption is an incredible film for being on point when spreading hopefulness, being a worthy Best Picture nominee in the process. If you desire that very feeling, see this movie now.
Comments