AFI Top 100: #72
I hate to be the one to inform you if you're one of the rare and unfortunate people to not like this film but you are just wrong. Frank Darabont's The Shawshank Redemption is an undeniable classic and one that still holds up with its progressive themes to this day. Even though this film might not be the most groundbreaking in terms of its technical features, the writing and performances work together to make this one of the most compassionate, human experiences ever put to the screen. I'm surely not the first to marvel at how amazing this film is from start to finish but it is hard to disagree with the almost unanimous opinion that this movie is one of the best stories ever made. I had not seen this film since I was a kid and while my critical brain is much different than it was then, I was actually able to pick up on a lot of elements that I had not previously thought about. This cast and crew work together to make one of the warmest and most rewatchable films of all time and it surely deserves to be much higher on the AFI's Top 100 list.
Upon being sent to prison for two life sentences for allegedly murdering his wife and her lover, optimist banker Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) quickly becomes the lighthearted beacon of hope in Shawshank Prison. Over the course of many years, he becomes friends with a man known as Red (Morgan Freeman) and the two of them strike up a friendship dealing out hope as Andy tries to escape his wrongful punishment. Adapted from a Stephen King short story titled "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption," this story is one of the most uplifting and beautiful looks at unexpected friendship ever written. Frank Darabont's writing and direction turn what was most likely a darker and more dreary look at prison from the acclaimed horror writer into this brilliantly optimistic look at life in the face of eternal imprisonment. His script is just wonderful and especially in the dialogue, the characters are so individualistic right off the bat and they all prove to be such integral parts of the story in one way or another. The focus on multiple characters, mostly Andy and Red, was great and really helped to develop their friendship. Although they might not have been super close right away, the way that Darabont eases the audience into their relationship to actually make it believable is fantastic. Andy is such a kind and easygoing man while Red is more stubborn and involved within the prison community and both of these roles were portrayed beautifully by Robbins and Freeman. These two have some of the greatest chemistry together that I have ever seen and they were practically born for these parts. On top of one of the most emotional ending sequences I have ever seen, these two steal the film and really bring a sense of hopeful aspiration to the people around them. Darabont's direction helps with this as well, as he gives the audience plenty of time and scenes for them to fall in love with these two men and their everlasting friendship. Despite being set in a violent and ruthless prison, Darabont is able to make the men's cells feel like home in a very strange way.
One thing that I was not expecting from this film at all was how it would handle the prison industrial complex. While I remember the general story and the ending, this rewatch just confirmed how much more progressive this film is than I gave it credit for. Showing the unnecessary violence and inhumane treatment of human beings is obviously very hard to watch but this film tells it more honestly than a normal filmmaker would. Darabont is never afraid to show how the prison complex has become so deeply rooted within our capitalistic, American system. What I loved about his take on this setting is that with his script, he never placed these main characters in a prison and said "oh well." Any other filmmaker knows that they could very well just focus on the relationship between the men and entirely ignore the fucked-up realities of where the story is set but instead, Darabont takes this head-on. He knows how much significance the contained atmosphere of this film carries and he never shies away from criticizing the system. This can be seen throughout the entire movie, from the librarian serving his life sentence for over 50 years to the communities of inmates within the walls. As an audience, we can clearly see how genuinely kind and goodhearted these people are and how they are so separated from normal society that they are forced to create their own community. Prison systems are designed to make people suffer and provide little to no rehabilitation opportunities and at its core, that is what The Shawshank Redemption is about. There is no reason why these men serving life sentences have to live out the rest of their lives in solace when they are so clearly changed and the character of Red serves this purpose incredibly well, as he has become so broken with the prison he has almost accepted his fate. That is until Andy comes along and their friendship renews his look on life. The cinematography and editing were solid but did not stand out that much and Darabont proves the technical parts do not have to be as flashy when the writing is this phenomenal.
The Shawshank Redemption is simply one of the greatest stories ever written and its translation from script to screen proves to be one of the best ever made. I always hate to feel like I am jumping on the bandwagon when it comes to universally beloved movies but it is difficult not to when a film like this proves itself in every way imaginable. Robbins, Freeman, and Darabont are truly a match made in storytelling heaven and if anyone ever tries to tell you that they did not instantly fall in love with this film, they are flat-out liars.
My Rating: ★★★★★
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