Shawshank Redemption

There are few movies that touch your soul and leave their impression on you long after you've finished watching. Shawshank Redemption is one of those movies that takes hold of your mind and heart and leaves its residue lingering long afterwords. The movie is based on a short story by well-known author Stephen King and is a change of pace from his normal horror genre writing preference.

Andy Dufresne, played by Tim Robbins, the central character in the movie, proves to be a man of much strength as he withstands the cruelest fate without losing his hope. Andy's journey from a life of comfort and normality to one void of freedom will draw you in, for you'll know as surely as he does that he is innocent of the crime he is convicted of, that of cold-blooded murder. Unfortunately, all the evidence points to him, especially since his wife was shot, and he happened to be near the scene with a gun. Sounds suspicious, of course, but during the course of the movie, you'll discover the truth, and you heart will go out to the man who has been condemned to a death of sorts, the death of his dignity and spirit.

Shawshank prison is as cold as its exterior suggests, and Andy's first years there are dark and merciless. They nearly break his spirit, but somehow he manages to resist the surrender of his soul and, after learning the ropes, manages to become accustomed to the life he was forced to take on. His life on the outside, that of a banker, helps him gain favor with the guards and the warden for some time, and this offers him a chance to use his mind rather than perform hard manual labor.

Andy's friend Red, a part played magnificently by Morgan Freeman, keeps him company throughout their years together at Shawshank prison, and the two become quite close in friendship. Red comes to know Andy well, and as the years progress Red senses a change in Andy, and watches as his friend is able to break free from bondage, unaware during the planning stage of Andy's escape, but amazed at the repercussions it brings on.

Andy does indeed break free from the smothering Shawshank walls, but it takes the good course of his life to do so. Amazingly, he tunnels out, slowly, methodically, with an iron determination. His plan unfolds during the course of one stormy night, when the cloak of thunder is about him. Once free, the viewer gains a sense of what hope and determination are all about. Andy has championed evil, and the goodness in his soul will shine through.

The plot of Shawshank Redemption kept me almost spell bound, for there were many twists and turns throughout, from Andy's chance at freedom being denied by the cruel and heartless warden to the hanging suicide of a young ex-con that Andy and Red had grown close to, and each event in the story builds up towards the climax superbly. There are points when the story is calm, but the next moment that all changes, keeping the viewer in a state of suspense and curiosity.

The actors outdid themselves, for I found myself totally lost in reality of the movie, forgetting that Hollywood magic had pulled it all off so well. This movie does not busy itself with detail to background and scenery, but this only adds to the screenplay, for the prison itself is sparsely decorated and dungeon-like and our focus lies more with the characters, mainly Andy, and the psychological aspects draw us in, so that the movie affects you more emotionally than visually.

The emotions you will experience will be wide-ranging and powerful. I was amazed that, in the face of despair, Andy could find pleasure in the smallest things, such as helping his fellow prison mates gain a chance to enjoy a cold one on his behalf or playing a moving opera over the prison loud speaker. His determined spirit was a testament to the power of survival, and sends the message that no matter how bad your situation seems, do not give up, for things will get better. The underlying good vs evil theme is one that I tend to enjoy in a movie for it leaves you with a sense of triumph and you come away uplifted, or in this case, gratefully bereft.

This is definitely an adult movie for it deals with mature issues and there are several graphic scenes in addition to violence. However, for the most part, they do not weigh the movie down, and leave plenty of room for the powerfully uplifting ending to pervade the viewer's senses. This is a must-see as it will remind you how blessed freedom is and how strong the powerful will to live can be.