I HOPE TO GET TO SEE MY FRIEND AGAIN

I hope the Pacific Ocean is as blue as I think it is. I hope.
This is really the perfect movie; not one single flaw, and every second of film is important and meaningful to the plot and character development. Movies are not to be rushed through; they should be savored and enjoyed, and this one has it's own special place in moviemaking.
I have never liked prison movies, but this one (and the Green Mile) transcends the genre. It is not really a movie about a prison, it is a movie about hope and the strength of the human spirit despite unbelievable obstacles. Tim Robbins, as Andy Dufresne, is fantastic. Very slow, calm and with a shy, quiet wit and a keen eye to the human frailties of his tormentors, notably the warden and the brutal prison guard, he adapts quickly and learns the ropes about how to survive in an atmosphere that few could. Morgan Freeman, who narrates in his beautiful, soothing voice, plays Red, Andy's best friend, and the relationship between the two is deeply moving.
Andy bucks the system, often, but not just to show off or be a smart alec, to improve the lives of the prisoners who must survive under a primitve, sadistic regime, and to help them feel like men, and have a taste of freedom and dignity. The first night that Andy is there, a heavyset prisoner, very young, breaks down and calls for his mother; unfortunately, he pays a high price for his emotions, in the first scene that demonstrates the true evil that rules this dark, Gothic world.
Tommy arrives, some years later, a young, brash criminal in the making, with a great sense of humor and defensive about his lack of education; notably, his inability to read...this is resolved by Andy, who takes the young man under his wing and teaches him letters and eventually, Tommy passes his test.
The next scene that really shocked me was the warden's response to Tommy's story about who the real killer of Andy's wife was; via a confession from a former cellmate. The warden and most of the guards have a vested interest in keeping Andy right where he is, after finding out he was able to save them a lot of money on their income tax returns due to his banker's background. Far too valuable a man to lose just because he was unjustly charged.
SPOILER!
But Andy is nothing if not resourceful, and he has had years to plan his escape...and not only an escape but one that nets him hundreds of thousands of the warden's own money, blows the whistle on the atrocities that have been going on in the little fiefdom the warden so enjoyed as his own personal outlet for brutality, and a permanent freedom to do whatever he wants to do with the money to do it with.

The ending is one of, if not the, most satisfying it has ever been my pleasure to see, and wonderfully satisfying after all the horrors these men have been put through. Red eventually wins his freedom, and departs the only place he knew for a world that is strange, unwelcoming, and hostile. I love the scene of Red, after having walked for miles through deserted fields, he comes upon a buried box that Andy had told him about, opens it and finds a nice wad of cash. He looks around several times, although in the middle of nowhere; he cannot believe there isn't someone watching him; after all, he has been watched 24/7 for several decades.
This money is his ticket back to Andy, and a reunion that satisfies the soul.
I watch this every time it is on TV, and every time I do, I find it as wonderful as the first time...and enjoy it just as much, if not more; it is a movie that doesn't lose impact after repeated viewings and actually makes you feel good after seeing it, because it proves that no matter how bleak things are in your life, someone else's is always worse, and things will get better if you only perservere...take a page from Andy's book and thank God for what you have.

The Shawshank Redemption: Fantastic Movie

This movie is one that I rent and look forward to seeing every time. It is one of those special movies that never gets old, and is such great quality. The music is one of the reasons I have loved it so much. The composer, Thomas Newman, also did The Horse Whisperer, which had the same kind of haunting, gorgeous music throughout it too. It helps to tell the story and is, in my opinion, perfect.

The good parts by far outweigh the at times hard to watch prison life. This is because the story is so inspirational and moving, that by the end, you forget about those bad times. It examines and is a testament to the human spirit, and is told/portrayed so well that the end result is powerful. The good times consist of the friendships between the men in the prison and the way they try to still hope and have good lives dispite of their situations. Tim Robbins plays Andy Dufresne, the main charcter who makes the prison break. The times in the movie when he quietly, but at the same time loudly, defies the corrupt authority at the prison are very moving. There is a scene where he broadcasts an opera record over the intercome of the prison, then everyone stops and listens, its really a beautiful moment and a powerful thought, that every human has to have hope to keep going in life. This thought is the driving force of the movie and is worked to perfection. Every aspect of the movie, the music, the circumstances, the dialogue, all confirm this notion and stand out throughout the film.

Morgan Freeman plays Red, his friend he meets in prison. His performance is just as good and his character just as important to the story as Robbins'. The movie is narrated throughout using his voice, such a good choice for narration dont ya think? The deep friendship between the two of them is another driving force for this movie. It shows the bonds that can form between two people in these kinds of circumstances. These two exceptional actors make this movie a real stand out in the films over the years.

Bottom line, this is a wonderful piece of cinema that I am glad is so highly acclaimed and remembered. It ranks very high up there in my favorites of all time.

Intense and unforgettable prison film

This film is based on a Stephen King story and stars Tim Robbins as Andy, an innocent man who is sent to prison for life. At Shawshank Prison, the cruel warden (Bob Gunton) and guards treat the convicts like animals. Their lives are filled with misery and hopelessness. Andy's only relief comes from his friendship with fellow inmate, Red (Morgan Freeman), an old-timer who never expects to get out. Andy gradually adjusts to life at Shawshank, working in the warden's office and helping to get a prison library. Resourceful Andy has also been secretly working for years on a wild escape plan.

With all the prison cruelty, this is a very painful movie to watch, but it has a hopeful and heartwarming ending. Robbins and Freeman have a great chemistry and are a pleasure to watch. James Whitmore has a small but touching role as a convict who gets released after spending most of his life behind bars. Although there are many scenes that make me cringe, I do like the movie and heartily recommend it.

Kona