AN EXCELLENT STORY OF ONE MAN'S HOPE FOR FREEDOM

Rating: Null/10 (6 December 1998)

I HAVE NOT SEEN MANY FILMS ABOUT PRISON LIFE. I KNOW WHAT I HAVE SEEN FROM TELEVISION (REMEMBER THOSE TV SPECIALS "SCARED STRAIGHT"?), MAGAZINES, ETC. THEY ALL HAVE ONE SIMPLE THEME: PRISON IS "HELL" - AND THOSE WHO HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME, FOR WHATEVER REASON, DESERVE THEIR STAY IN "HELL". SOME PEOPLE GO TO PRISON FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS IN THE WORLD AS WELL - SOME ARE UNJUSTLY SENTENCED FOR CRIMES THEY DIDN'T COMMIT. THIS IS THE STORY OF ANDY DUFRESNE - A MAN WHO WENT TO SHAWSHANK PRISON FOR ALL THOSE WRONG REASONS. ALSO, IT EXPLORES ANDY'S FRIENDSHIP WITH ELLIS BOYD "RED" REDDING - A MAN WHO WENT TO PRISON FOR A CRIME HE COMMITTED. IT'S A STORY OF HOPE IN THE MIDST OF "HELL". A MUST SEE FILM. EXCELLENTLY DIRECTED BY FRANK DARABONT.