The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Dir: Frank Darabont
- Ridley Coote
- Mar 7
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 8
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There are some films out there that are just special, and the general consensus is that this 1994 classic is just that. Adapted from the novella by Stephen King, and directed by regular King screen adaptor Frank Darabont, this prison drama is an odyssey of hope that has stood the test of time as one of the best book adaptations of all-time, and arguably among the best films ever full-stop.
One of my favourite things about this film is the score, composed by Thomas Newson. The main theme is beautiful, memorable, and emotive. There are very few films whose soundtracks utilise stringed instruments so effectively to evoke such feeling in the audience. Quite simply, it's one of my favourite pieces of film music.
The story isn't typically what one would associate with Stephen King, being the 'master of horror', but it is absolutely brilliant. It's got such compelling arcs and subplots to it, that make for a complete and easy to emotionally invest in story. It has some truly beautiful, hopeful elements, as well as some absolutely heartbreaking ones. It's emotional storytelling at its most potent.
Tim Robbins has never really had that many big roles, come to think of it, but this was undoubtedly his biggest and best. In my view, he was perfectly cast, and played the role near enough as such. His subtle smiles and wit make for some of my favourite scenes in the whole film, although his more dramatic scenes are just as easy to enjoy and worthy of appreciating.
Morgan Freeman gives one of his best performances ever in this film. His voice is perfect for narration of any sort, but Freeman does such a magnificent job in this film. Furthermore, his on-screen performance is an exemplary example of how good a nuanced, 'less is more' approach can be. He never over-acts a scene, yet always evokes a lot of emotion, especially in the film's last act.
Bob Gunton provides the most notable of the secondary performances, and makes for a solid antagonist while he's at it, as does Clancy Brown, albeit to a lesser extent. Credit also goes to William Sadler, Gil Bellows and James Whitmore for their supporting roles.
Overall, sometimes I forget just how good this film is, but then when I revisit it, I'm reminded of its excellence. Its a truly hopeful story, which has so many classic scenes along the way. It is, without a doubt, one of the best films of the 90's, and of the 20th Century as a whole. There's no doubting that it's one of those classics that every film lover should watch at least once before they die.
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