Shawshan redemption review

Rating: 9/10 (11 October 2016)

The Shawshank Redemption: Accepting the bleak and harsh realities that present themselves in our lives is part of what it means to mature as a person. No film I have ever seen so deeply encapsulates this sentiment as Frank Darabont's Shawshank Redemption. Two convicted felons live out their life sentences in the Shawshank prison, usually by outfoxing guards with red's smuggling network or just rambling with old chums. The Shawshank Redemption is a masterfully crafted film because the excellent cinematography, engaging plot, and Tim Robbin's acting eloquently reflects the frustrations of a wrongly convicted man named Andy Dufresne, and his struggle to maintain one of the most valuable aspects of humanity: hope.
The outstanding cinematography and drab grey shading help convey a bleak setting at the beginning of the film. Tense moments were punctuated with dark shadows cast over the actor's faces, and intensified further with Morgan Freeman's dulcet narration. The establishing shots of the prison were dull and grey, akin to the monotonous lifestyles of the institutionalized convicts that had accepted their lot in life. The somber tone created by dull colors and shading slowly captivated my attention, leaving me with baited breath in anticipation for the events to unfold.
The majority of the story was set in Shawshank prison, where our main characters, 'Red', and Andy Dufresne stare the reality of a life sentence in the face. Throughout the film, the two main characters complement one another with their incongruent views of what being behind bars truly means. Red believed that they should accept their current situation and make the best of it, whereas Andy tried to busy himself with his hobbies: keeping his mind focused on things beyond the walls that caged him. I found this optimistic behavior incredibly inspiring as a viewer. There is truly a positive gem of wisdom to be found in a person who is thrusted into an impossible situation, and still finds a perseverance to escape it as Andy Dufresne did.
The actors in this film performed extremely well overall, and Morgan Freeman's narration enriched my experience of this film immensely, because it complemented Tim Robin's delivery of Andy's character. Tim Robin's acting during Andy Dufresne's first interaction with Red was so well done, I felt as though Morgan Freedman's narration was manifesting on screen rather than being acted out. The entire cast succeeded especially well in bringing their respective characters to life: not forcefully exuding emotion, but casually, and crisply conveying memorable character interactions.
The Shawshank Redemption is a powerful piece which stands in a class of its own: original, nuanced, and engaging. A great deal of care, time, and consideration was placed into the production of this film. I reflect back on the many other films have emerged in recent decades: films that tried to emulate Shawshank Redemption's sleek mature essence, to no avail. Truly this film stands without peer by my metric. I have enjoyed the viewing and critiquing process of this film immensely, it is truly a treasure which I would recommend anyone watch for their enjoyment as well.