Get Busy Living, Or Get Busy Dying

Rating: Null/10 (30 April 2003)

`The Shawshank Redemption' tells the story of wrongly accused murderer, Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) and his story of survival inside a maximum-security prison. As Andy enters Shawshank prison, he soon realizes his innocence doesn't matter. He's in a place where everybody thinks they are innocent. Andy is portrayed from the view of a second person, and most of the time we see what this second person sees. He meets Ellis `Red' Reddings (Morgan Freeman), the man who can get things from the outside. Red was able to obtain almost anything the prisoners want, but always for a price. Slowly a friendship grows between Andy and Red. It's interesting Red is the only `guilty' man in Shawshank Prison. This movie is not about the normal prison violence that is seen in many prison films. There is some violence, but nothing too drastic. The film focuses more on making the best of a bad situation. Andy demonstrates if a person's life is based on strong values, he doesn't compromise his values in any situation. Often these values can affect others in a positive way. Andy never gave up his hope, his hope that someday things will go right. The tagline `get busy living, or get busy dying' sums up the message of the film. It is a good film. It has a simple story that is easy to follow. The acting is good, and the director Frank Darabont, is able to keep me interested through the entire movie. It also has a surprising and memorable ending. I don't know much about prison life and how it really is, but there are a few things which seem a little unrealistic: alcohol for the work crew, and how Red is able to obtain almost anything the prisoners want. Overall, it's a good movie. It can give the viewer something to think about and maybe learn from.