The Shawshank Redemption Review

The Shawshank Redemption

Release Date: 15th February 1995 - Australia

Production Companies

Castle Rock Entertainment (presents)

Distribution

Roadshow Films

Genre: Drama

Rating: MA15+ (Not Suitable for Young Children)

Runtime: 142 minutes

Budget: $25,000,000

Box Office Gross: $73,364,879 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Andy Dufresne is a hot-shot banker from New England. He is in Shawshank State Prison after being convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. He meets a fellow inmate

named Red Redding, who he

befriends and together, the

two find solace and

redemption through acts of

virtue.

Cast

Tim Robbins - Andy Dufresne

Morgan Freeman - Red Redding

Bob Gunton - Warden Norton

William Sadler - Heywood

Clancy Brown - Captain Hadley

Gil Bellows - Tommy

Mark Rolston - Bogs Diamond

James Whitmore - Brooks Hatlen

Larry Brandenburg - Skeet

Neil Giuntoli - Jigger

Brian Libby - Floyd

David Proval - Snooze

Joseph Ragno - Ernie
Jude Ciccolella - Guard Mert
Paul McCrane - Guard Trout

Scott Mann - Glenn Quentin
Frank Medrano - Fat Ass
Mack Miles - Tyrell
Brian Delate - Guard Dekins
Don McManus - Guard Wiley
Donald Zinn - Moresby Batter
Bill Bolender - Elmo Blatch
Dion Anderson - Head Bull Haig
Ken Magee - Ned Grimes
Claire Slemmer - Bank Teller
James Kisicki - Bank Manager
Renee Blaine - Andy Dufresne's Wife
Alfonso Freeman - Fresh Fish Con
Jeffrey DeMunn - 1946 D.A.

Crew

Writer/Director - Frank Darabont

Based on the Short Novel "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" - Stephen King

Script Supervisors - James Ellis Deakins and Sioux Richards

Executive Producer - Liz Glotzer

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager - David V. Lester

Producer - Niki Marvin
Casting Director - Deborah Aquila

Production Designer - Terence Marsh

Art Director - Peter Landsdown Smith

Set Decorator - Michael Seirton

Costume Designer - Elizabeth McBride

Director of Photography - Roger Deakins

First Assistant Director - John R. Woodward
Stunt Coordinator - Jerry Gatlin

Special Effects - Bob Williams

Film Editor - Richard Francis-Bruce

Supervising Sound Editor - John Stacy

Production Sound Mixer - Willie D. Burton

Re-Recording Mixers - Michael Herbick,

Robert J. Litt and Elliott Tyson

Music - Thomas Newman

Awards

1995 Academy Awards
Best Picture - Niki Marvin (Nominated)
Best Actor in a Leading Role - Morgan Freeman

(Nominated)
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material
Previously Produced or Published - Frank Darabont

(Nominated)
Best Cinematography - Roger Deakins (Nominated)
Best Sound - Robert J. Litt, Elliot Tyson,

Michael Herbick and Willie D. Burton (Nominated)
Best Film Editing - Richard Francis-Bruce

(Nominated)
Best Music, Original Score - Thomas Newman

(Nominated)

Review

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION was seen and admired by many film buffs. The IMDB website rated it as #1 among the top 250 films. A well-renowned cinematic iteration of a book by Stephen King, it beats a few movies based on his other works like Stand by Me, The Shining and Misery. It accomplishes pure significance and love for the modern film industry. The film suffered from poor advertising during its release. Then, re-airings on television quickly changed that into a pop-cultural phenomenon. Unsurprisingly, SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION was one of the year's best movies, eligible to win the Best Picture Oscar and got snubbed by Forrest Gump. I also point out that The Lion King should have had this distinction if it had earned the award nomination.

A prison drama about two inmates who struggle to regain their hope and freedom from a corrupt prison, director Frank Darabont has never filmed a Hollywood big-budgeted picture. And this is his first foray into the motion picture industry. It's his known directional debut as Frank was moving on to direct other projects, most of which would be filmed years later.

Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman hand out their sensational performances in a movie like SHAWSHANK. Their roles as inmates consider one is a rogue and another is a seasoned veteran. They both have a friendship that is at the heart of the story. It is a shame that none of these two well-known actors won the Best Actor award, which now goes to Tom Hanks for his titular role in Forrest Gump. Bob Gunton was perfect as the corrupt warden, and Clancy Brown was excellent in his supporting role as the ruthless guard. The music from Thomas Newman was hauntingly beautiful and moody and, without a doubt, is the best composition he has written for a feature film.

It was a genuinely moving movie that's known as a timeless masterpiece. Age hasn't affected SHAWSHANK as the film was highly regarded and continued to inspire us. It's highly recommended for those new to Stephen King and will watch it for the first time.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

Back to Home