The Shawshank Redemption (DVD)

In 1994, Frank Darabont took the chair as the director of The Shawshank Redemption, the film of a Stephen King short story. He was not to know the success the film would see for years, with it sitting in the top ranks of many people's favourite all-time films. It sits there in mine, right at the top. The Plot Andy Dufresne is a city banker. Wrongly accused of killing his wife and her lover, he is sent to Shawshank Prison in 1947 to serve a double life sentence. Receiving the attention and abuse of a raw new inmate, he responds by remaining silent and strong as his stay commences and proceeds. He becomes friends with prison fixer Red, and ...  Read the complete review

The Shawshank Redemption is a film like none other. It follows a long term sentence of a man sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit taking the audience from around 1930's up until 1960's. I'm not going to explain what happens as that would spoil it slightly for anyone who hasn't seen it yet. When I first watched this film when it came out, I was certainly captivated from start to finish. The plot is very easy to follow and crucial parts of it are narrated by Morgan Freeman who plays 'Red', one of Andy's close friends on the inside. This means that the viewer can follow the film as though they were reading the book. There are many trials ...  Read the complete review

Convicted of the murder of his wife, a young successful banker; Andy Dufresne, is sent to prison and has to learn to cope with prison life. Eventually gaining respect of follow inmates, in perhaps not the most conventional of prison life ways, and with the firm bond between himself and fellow prisoner Red, and learning that no one can take away your hope and courage, this film follows his experience of prison life and of redemption. Tim Robbins (Mystic River) takes on the lead role of Andy Dufresne, who I actually haven't seen much work of other than this. That said he takes on the role excellently, at no point does the acting seem weak, or the character ...  Read the complete review

Some films rely on big special effects to make an impact, others rely on complex and clever story lines and unexpected plot twists to leave a lasting impression, others cover generations to deliver a big epic tale or cover the planet using the beauty of the natural world as a backdrop. The Shawshank Redemption does none of theses things yet remains one of the most memorable and critically acclaimed films of modern cinema. It relies on the things that have films always had relied on prior to the modern explosion of studio technology and special affects, a good story and some great acting. It’s a small and fairly slow story but it plays out with such intensity and skill ...  Read the complete review

Some films just grip you like nothing else. Shawshank is one. From the opening voiceover, you know you’r e in for something special and you’re not disappointed. At its most basic Shawshank is a tale of a man sent to prison for the murder of his wife. In reality, it’s so much more than that. It’s a film about friendship, hope and the human spirit. Feeling a bit down? Stick Shawshank on, it’ll soon have you feeling better! Much of the credit for the film’s success has to go to the two lead actors – Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins. Both are excellent actors in their own right, but put them together and you just get celluloid dynamite. There’s a real ...  Read the complete review