The film "Shawshank Redemption" ranked the highest in IMDb list of top 250 films of all time two decades later after its release in 1994. It outperformed popular films such as; "The Godfather," "Schindler’s List" and "The Dark Knight."
What is the 'Shawshank Redemption' about?
It was an adaptation of Stephen King’s novella, “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption.” Frank Darabont, the film’s director, had to change the title to avoid confusion of people auditioning for Rita Hayworth roles. Under Darabont, the film bagged seven Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor (Morgan Freeman).
These nominations are the highest for a Stephen King adaptation.
According to the Vore, prison life fascinates audiences; prison escape movies rank The Best in most movie charts."Shawshank Redemption" is the first movie that comes to my mind whenever I feel like watching a prison movie. There is definitely a reason why after so many years of tirelessly watching the film, I still cannot get enough of it.
The message of hope keeps popping up in various aspects of the film. “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies” That is a quote from the main character Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins).
The film tells the story of Andy Dufresne, an accountant who is accused of killing his wife and lover.
He is sentenced to Shawshank prison which happens to be one of the worst prisons in America. In prison, he meets with fellow inmate Ellis “Red” Redding (Morgan Freeman), the prison con who has been trying to sway the parole board. Dufresne approaches him for a rock hammer after one month of keeping to himself.
Red told him that acquiring the rock hammer was a complete waste of money, little did he know that it would be the one thing that would grant Dufresne his freedom.
That and the wall poster that hid the tunnel he dug from his cell for 19 years.
Why should anyone watch 'Shawshank Redemption'?
The power of hope is seen as Dufresne perseveres all manner of brutal hardships that the prison dishes out with goodness. He teaches fellow inmates the importance of books, the beauty of Mozart and why hope matters.
He even endures the stench in the sewer tunnel he escapes in, braves the stormy rain to Zihuatanejo.
The best moment in the film is when Dufrense decides enough is enough. This is when the Warden kills a guy he was mentoring because of willing to testify Dufrense as innocent of charges against him. The Warden’s face after discovering the conspiracy behind Racquel Welch’s wall poster is always the scene I look forward to, and I am certain when you watch the film, you will too
