Shawshank Redemption

Shawshank Redemption DVD

In writer-director Frank Darabont's THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION Andy Dufresne Tim Robbins is sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison for the murders of his wife and her lover in the late 1940s. However only Andy knows that he didn't commit the crimes. Sent to Shawshank Prison to do hard time Andy--a taciturn banker in the outside world--has to learn to get by in the brutal cutthroat confines of prison life. His quiet strength slowly earns the respect of his fellow inmates--most notably Red Morgan Freeman--and even much of the prison staff. But Andy's seemingly stoic acceptance of his unjust imprisonment hides a fierce determination for freedom. This beautifully crafted movie features touching and sincere performances from the entire cast with an uplifting message about humanity's indomitable spirit and the redemptive value of hope. Based on the novella RITA HAYWORTH AND SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION by Stephen King Darabont's intriguing adaptation is easily one of the finest films of the 1990s.

Shawshank Redemption [VHS]

When this popular prison drama was released in 1994, somecritics complained that the movie was too long (142 minutes) to sustain its story. Those complaints miss the point, because the passage of time is crucial to this story about patience, the squeaky wheels of justice, and the growth of a life-long friendship. Only when the film reaches its final, emotionally satisfying scene do you fully understand why writer-director Frank Darabont (adapting a novella by Stephen King) allows the story to unfold at its necessary pace, and the effect is dramatically rewarding. Tim Robbins plays a banker named Andy who's sent to Shawshank Prison on a murder charge, where he gets to know a life-term prisoner named Red (Morgan Freeman). Andy's calm, quiet exterior hides a great reserve of patience and fortitude, and Red comes to admire this mild-mannered man who first struck him as weak and unfit for prison life. So it is that The Shawshank Redemption builds considerable impact as a prison drama that defies the conventions of the genre (violence, brutality, riots) to illustrate its theme of faith, friendship, and survival. Nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Actor, and Screenplay, it's a remarkable film that signaled the arrival of a promising new filmmaker--a film that many movie lovers count among their all-time favorites. --Jeff Shannon