review of a bad review

Rating: Null/10 (14 January 2003)

Contains Spoilers 1.- The reason there was no racial tension was that in 1940-60s Maine, the black population was less than 1%, in one of the most conservative states, so, no, there was not much racial tension; and so, after a month, Andy asks him to get the hammer, he just didn't walk up to him the first day there. I was in lockup for a night in Louisville KY with 30 others and in an hour I was BSin with a homie who got popped with 6 ounces of blow. I got nailed for not producing a valid license.(left it in the hotel).
2.- All the relevant (except "the sisters") prisoners were criminals, and doing time, and were not saints.
3.- Andy can get a REAL (not fake) driver's license and S.S. number for a bogus identity. Granted this is a movie, but yes, you can get real documents by mail. He was in prison for years before he started his phantom identity, he would have been able to ask any con for help. And THEIR picture would never end up on the license, because they didn't start putting photos on licenses until the 70s and 80s. This was the 40s - 60s, when white collar crime was just starting to expand.
4.- He doesn't get gang-raped many times and doesn't end up traumatized. He fought them off.
5.- A white yuppie banker can pull off what none of the lifers can? And the "he never lost hope" excuse don't cut it. Because it's a movie.
6.- The prison guards NEVER once open up his books (where he kept the rock hammer). At any prison of medium security the raids include the books as well, never mind a maximum security facility. Because it's a movie.
7.- Red remembers Andy's instructions EXACTLY, even when these were told to him only once and at a relaxed, casual moment. And after months, the place Andy described remained THE SAME. Remember Andy told him right before he escaped and Red was paroled soon after.
What bothers me about bad reviews is distorting the facts to make up the bad review.