Movie #1

Rating: 10/10 (28 June 2016)

The best way to spend a lazy night. it's deeply satisfying prison drama with sensitive direction and fine performances. This is an engagingly simple, good-hearted film. Top-notch performances, exceptional cinematography, and masterful direction. "The Shawshank Redemption" comes out of nowhere in the sense that it is a first feature film by Frank Darabont, who, with this one work, declares himself a special talent. He adapted King's story for the screen and insisted on directing the story too, much in the same way that Sylvester Stallone could not be pried loose from "Rocky." Guts equals glory. Freeman, who is simply a great actor, a man who has never struck a false note in his career, both narrates this tale and anchors it with his authoritative playing. A 21-year friendship between a lifer (Morgan Freeman) and a New England banker convicted of murder (Tim Robbins) is the focus of this gripping 1994 prison drama, capably directed and adapted by Frank Darabont from Stephen King's short novel Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. A passing reference to The Count of Monte Cristo offers a partial clue to what makes this movie compelling