The redemption that was left untold:a movie review
The redemption that you seek in life is not always for others,but for you as well. Redeeming oneself comes with a laundry list of problems, but in the end you will feel invigorated. This is the heady effect that Shawshank Redemption had on me.This flick is a must-see and a complete far cry from the usual potboilers that abound the Hollywood film industry. If you want to laugh, cry, relate to among others, then this brutal yet realistically feel good movie will hit you, hard.The unsung foot soldier here is Andy Dufresne.
But be forewarned though, this is definitely not for the faint of heart as you will be feeling queasy internally throughout but the immutable truth of the movie is the takeaway. The casting choice could not be more perfect as you see the movie through Andy Dufresne's(Tim Robbins)eyes.
Tim Robbins particularly struck me in this movie with not just his acting prowess but also his towering 6'5 presence. Morgan Freeman, with acting talent unsurpassed portrays the character of Red with ease.
The story of the movie goes along the lines of a banker with street smarts who accidentally happens upon his disloyal, conniving wife cheating on him. He goes where no man has before(just kidding
) and kills the lot. After being supposedly "sentenced" to jail, he lands himself in a quagmire of problems initially. He learns that harshness of life has not been cut out for him and befriends Morgan Freeman's lovable and resourceful character- Red. The movie is an emotional roller-coaster which includes yesteryear star Rita Hayworth's poster(as a clear distraction to dig a hole through the wall and escape), maggots swimming in unsanitary prison food, an old man named Brooks who works in the library with a mouse as pet and who fails to understand normal outside of prison are one of the most poignant scenes in the movie.
After all, it is a movie about hope and how the journey of two men fight a tempest of despair, only to reemerge stronger and alive. Their unlikely friendship really sets the tone of the movie as Frank Darabont has made a classic worthy of an Oscar.
Narrated by Red(Morgan Freeman) who place a bet on Andy's tall drink of water when he sees him emerging from the van to the Shawshank penitentiary. Red is someone who can procure anything,from the smallest to the biggest item imaginable. Andy's mettle is tested throughout the movie but he doesn't lose, not once and stands his ground by proving a point. People start comprehending the meaning of life and its true worth only after Andy's presence. He also has a particular proclivity for geology and rocks, which all act as crude tools for his master plan.
He also runs odd errands for the warden, who turns out to be a cruel and despicable individual who seems to operate under no moratoriums or social conventions. He is clearly a law unto himself.
Andy gets into his good books by running tax based help for the warden, despite his glib remarks and snide retorts.
From getting raped and tortured in the movie by a gang called the Sisters(a group of men who pick on the weak) to finally turning the scales of justice in his favor, the sun does shine on him once again.
It is later revealed that he was wrongly sentenced without any incriminating evidence at hand and that it was a pure vendetta killing by a third party.
Hope is really the best of things and that point is driven home when a banker who is used to living life on his own terms is instead thrown into the throes of a dreadful prison for a period 20 years later braves all odds standing in his way. He uses Red's skill set to make his way out of there and even leaves breadcrumbs along the way for Red to also escape. The part where Red gets called in every 10-20 years asking to see if he's actually rehabilitated is a harrowing affair.
The morbid captain of the guards, Hadley bludgeons a new inmate to death is going to leave you squeamish with a pit in your stomach. But ultimately life is a never ending series of heartbreaks and is rarely a bed of roses. Andy's portrayal by the inimitable Tim Robbins is fantastic. Morgan Freeman too lives up to our expectation and so do the others.
Feel like the cards aren't stacked your way? Just shuffle them and leave it up to chance as this is the moral of the movie. Kudos, Frank Darabont. The prison stands as an epitome of humanizing its prisoners.
But be forewarned though, this is definitely not for the faint of heart as you will be feeling queasy internally throughout but the immutable truth of the movie is the takeaway. The casting choice could not be more perfect as you see the movie through Andy Dufresne's(Tim Robbins)eyes.
Tim Robbins particularly struck me in this movie with not just his acting prowess but also his towering 6'5 presence. Morgan Freeman, with acting talent unsurpassed portrays the character of Red with ease.
The story of the movie goes along the lines of a banker with street smarts who accidentally happens upon his disloyal, conniving wife cheating on him. He goes where no man has before(just kidding
) and kills the lot. After being supposedly "sentenced" to jail, he lands himself in a quagmire of problems initially. He learns that harshness of life has not been cut out for him and befriends Morgan Freeman's lovable and resourceful character- Red. The movie is an emotional roller-coaster which includes yesteryear star Rita Hayworth's poster(as a clear distraction to dig a hole through the wall and escape), maggots swimming in unsanitary prison food, an old man named Brooks who works in the library with a mouse as pet and who fails to understand normal outside of prison are one of the most poignant scenes in the movie.
After all, it is a movie about hope and how the journey of two men fight a tempest of despair, only to reemerge stronger and alive. Their unlikely friendship really sets the tone of the movie as Frank Darabont has made a classic worthy of an Oscar.
Narrated by Red(Morgan Freeman) who place a bet on Andy's tall drink of water when he sees him emerging from the van to the Shawshank penitentiary. Red is someone who can procure anything,from the smallest to the biggest item imaginable. Andy's mettle is tested throughout the movie but he doesn't lose, not once and stands his ground by proving a point. People start comprehending the meaning of life and its true worth only after Andy's presence. He also has a particular proclivity for geology and rocks, which all act as crude tools for his master plan.
He also runs odd errands for the warden, who turns out to be a cruel and despicable individual who seems to operate under no moratoriums or social conventions. He is clearly a law unto himself.
Andy gets into his good books by running tax based help for the warden, despite his glib remarks and snide retorts.
From getting raped and tortured in the movie by a gang called the Sisters(a group of men who pick on the weak) to finally turning the scales of justice in his favor, the sun does shine on him once again.
It is later revealed that he was wrongly sentenced without any incriminating evidence at hand and that it was a pure vendetta killing by a third party.
Hope is really the best of things and that point is driven home when a banker who is used to living life on his own terms is instead thrown into the throes of a dreadful prison for a period 20 years later braves all odds standing in his way. He uses Red's skill set to make his way out of there and even leaves breadcrumbs along the way for Red to also escape. The part where Red gets called in every 10-20 years asking to see if he's actually rehabilitated is a harrowing affair.
The morbid captain of the guards, Hadley bludgeons a new inmate to death is going to leave you squeamish with a pit in your stomach. But ultimately life is a never ending series of heartbreaks and is rarely a bed of roses. Andy's portrayal by the inimitable Tim Robbins is fantastic. Morgan Freeman too lives up to our expectation and so do the others.
Feel like the cards aren't stacked your way? Just shuffle them and leave it up to chance as this is the moral of the movie. Kudos, Frank Darabont. The prison stands as an epitome of humanizing its prisoners.
Comments
Post a Comment