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The Shawshank Redemption Review
By admin | November 11, 2009
The Shawshank Redemption Trailer
The Shawshank Redemption Trailer
COMMENTS
With Frank DarabontТs THE GREEN MILE raking in the dough at the cineplexes these past few weeks, it seems appropriate that Warner Brothers has released his other prison flick, also based on a Stephen King yarn — THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION. Both films offer excellent performances in the leads and intriguing stories. Both are set in prisons and deal with men who may not be guilt of the crimes for which theyТve been sentenced. THE GREEN MILE deals with the supernatural — an angel on earth imprisoned and on death row for murdering two children. THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION keeps its feet on the ground. ItТs a deliberately paced film about doing time and its more about revenge than redemption.
Everyone at Shawshank claims to be innocent, and since we never see Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) actually commit the crime for which he was committed, itТs possible that he too has been imprisoned unjustly. Andy doesnТt talk much about what he did, or didnТt do — so, weТre not really sure during most of the film. But — no prizes for guessing. If Andy is a murderer, the СredemptionТ in the title would make sense. However, if heТs an innocent man why would he need redemption at all? Ah, thatТs the question.
Andy is not your typical prisoner, nor is THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION your typical prison flic. However, there are some clichйТs running rampant in the script. We have the hard-ass, brutish guard, Hadley (played with greasy skill by Clancy Brown), and thereТs the corrupt, though very religious Warden Norton (played with even more grease by Bob Gunton), and then thereТs the gang of, how should I say it … prisoners with alternate life-styles(?), who chase down and assault Andy at every turn. ThereТs even an old- timer, with a pet bird of course, whoТs been in jail for some fifty years and is set for release (played by James Whitmore). But the story centers around the relationship between Andy and another lifer, СRedТ Redding (Morgan Freeman). In this respect, СSHAWSHANK is a СbuddyТ pic. This is what makes the film so different from most others in the sub-genre. ItТs a character study, and though itТs set in a gloomy, dank, suffocating prison, this uplifting film is about hope, courage, and loyalty. It would be unfair to explain why these words best describe the film — it would give too much away. Suffice to say that THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION puts a twist on most of the more familiar elements of the typical prison yarn.
Tim Robbins is perfect as Andy Dufresne. His fleshy, boyish face and lanky build stands out in stark contrast to the hard cases heТs forced to do time with. Yet, his wide eyes and too cool manner makes us consider that he just might be capable of murder — if pushed too far. Catching his wife with another man couldТve done it. RobbinsТ Dufresne is a calculating sort. As his eyes dance from left to right and back, and a half smile almost lights up his pudgy face, we know heТs plotting — but exactly what remains a mystery until late in the film. Though Dufresne serves years and decades, he keeps his chin up and retains hope.
As always, Morgan Freeman is excellent as Red. Since СSHAWSHANKТs release, the actorТs often played the experienced, older gent who shares knowledge with an underling However, the part was fresher for him here. FreemanТs sad eyes and calm even tone are those of a man whoТs given up hope after many years on the inside. This is the contrast between the two inmates — RobbinsТ Dufresne has hope — not deep down inside, but outward and glowing, and he shares it with his fellow inmates. But Red has given up and dreads the day when he may be released to learn that he can longer survive on the outside.
Supporting Robins and Freeman are a collection of talented actors turning in very solid performances. СSHAWSHANK runs nearly two and a half hours, and without these gold nugget performances weТd certainly feel the time. This is not an action-filled flic — itТs slowly paced. However, the performances do engage. Frank DarabontТs THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION received mixed reviews on initial released. However, it has developed a nice little cult following since. ItТs taken Warner Bros. quite some time to serve this one up on DVD, and now that itТs arrived many are quite disappointed that the promised extras are not intact. However, true fans will still pick this disc up, since the film itself, extras or no, is well worth the price.
SYNOPSIS
After being tried and found guilty for the murder of his wife and her lover, banker Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is sentenced to life imprisonment at Shawshank Prison. When inmates first arrive at Shawshank, the veteran lifers wager on who among the fresh meat will be the first to crack when the cells lock up for the night. СRedТ Redding (Morgan Freeman) bets on Andy, who looks like a lamb among lions as he steps off the bus. But to everyoneТs surprise, Andy gets through his first night — and every night that follows without so much as a whimper. Another newbie doesnТt do so well, and attracts the attention of the chief bull. HeТs beaten unconscious and dies later in the infirmary.
Since Red is the fellow on the inside who can get an inmate most anything — even contraband, heТs a good man to know. Andy learns this quickly and asks for a few items now and then, like a geologistТs hammer, and a poster of Rita Hayworth. At first, Andy keeps his distance, and strikes the others as aloof, but eventually heТs befriended by Red who sees a bright light in him. One day, Andy earns the friendship of a handful of inmates by garnering them two beers a piece from the head guard in exchange for some sound financial advice. Word gets around quickly that Andy knows about taxes and dodges and soon heТs doing returns for most of the guards at Shawshank — as well as Warden NortonТs (Bob Gunton). Coincidentally, some problems Andy was having with the prisonТs homosexual population disappear and heТs working in the peaceful, cushy solitude of the inmatesТ library.
Warden Norton has a СrelationshipТ with the surrounding towns — his prisoners perform labor along the highways. When this threatens to steal work from contractors, payoffs are made to the Warden to withdraw his men. ItТs then AndyТs job to launder the money and funnel it into accounts for the warden. However, this ideal set-up is ruined when a newly arrived inmate provides information which could lead to AndyТs release. Panicked that his laundering scheme will collapse or that Andy may squeal to the authorities, the warden clamps down brutally and tosses Andy in solitary confinement. To say more would be unfair.
IMAGE
This is a very good, anamorphic transfer from the folks at Warner Brothers. The picture is sharp and detailed, though there are a few softer shots during the feature. Those who know the film are aware that much of it is set in lower key lighting, with only a handful of brighter exteriors thrown in here and there. For the darker scenes, lines are sharp and clean and shadow detail is very good, though weТve seen better on transfers of more recent films. We noted no instances of СringingТ from digital over-enhancement. Contrast and brightness levels are very good and consistent, allowing a fair amount of detail to show through into darker shadowed corners.
As is typical for a prison flick, СSHAWSHANKТs color palette is fairly drab, even during most exteriors, save for the filmТs final reel. When we do see brighter colors, theyТre a welcome sight after the suffocating grays and browns within the prison walls. Colors are very well rendered and appear natural throughout. When brighter hues are presented, theyТre saturated and exhibit no smearing or СbleedingТ between fields. Blacks are deep and solid and whites are clean with no blooming.
Flesh tones look good throughout the presentation, however we did note a bit of reddish tint along the edges of charactersТ faces in a handful of shots where brighter, natural light streams in to highlight a face. The print used by Warner Bros. to strike their master was very clean with only an occasional nick or scar, and these are hardly distracting. We noted no grain or image break up of any kind during the presentation. High marks for the folks at WB.
SOUND
This is a good Dolby Digital, 5.1 mix which improves slightly on the Surround Sound track heard on Warner Bros.Т laser disc released some years ago. It presents a somewhat wider forward stage and a bit more lower end in the front mains. Panning effects are rare, but smooth, and sound effects placement is accurate with an occasional sounding in the СphantomТ zones between the center channel and the left and right mains.
Being a character/dialogue driven flic, СSHAWSHANK is rather low on booming effects and audio razzle-dazzle. However, more subtle ambient sounds are present during some of the СcrowdТ scenes. Inmate murmurs and sounds out on the yard can be heard over the shoulders during some scenes, though in others theyТre lacking. We noted very few split effects over the shoulders. Other than the more subtle sounds, the filmТs score rises up nicely from the surrounds to support what is heard from the forward mains.
The .1 FX channel has virtually nothing to do, though an occasional rumble is heard. Dialogue is well recorded and nicely integrated across the forward stage. Voices sound full and natural — never distorted or compressed.
FEATURES
Scene access menu with links to 40 chapters in the film
Stills gallery
Theatrical trailer
Alternate French language track
English and French subtitles
English closed captions