Hopeful: A Classic with a Fair Share of Flaws

Rating: 7/10 (14 January 2005)

The Shawshank Redemption is considered by many to be one of the greatest films of all time. Yet as with any classic, we must not be blinded by its popularity, lest we overlook its flaws. And The Shawshank Redemption is not without its difficulties, but beyond those difficulties lies a heartfelt film, a film resilient in its hopefulness.
The Shawshank Redemption, for the most part, is seen through the eyes of Red, a prisoner in a high-security Maine prison who has been convicted on a charge of murder. Yet Red is not the true focus of the film, as Andy Dufresne steps onto the scene, convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. Red soon develops a friendship with Dufresne, and Red observes Dufresne like a curious onlooker, awed by his courage and knowledge.
These characters, the compelling story, and the direction are the three strongest points of the film. Each character is filled with life and plays an important role in both the film as a whole and in Dufresne's life. Never for a moment does the viewer question the plausibility of the characters and the circumstances in which they find themselves. This is where the story comes in, as the film contrasts dark reality with brilliance of hope. The story sucks the viewer into the film from the beginning, until it is so captivating, that the viewer could not escape if he tried. Furthermore, I was pleasantly amazed by Durabont's direction, as he creatively used the camera to capture even more wonderfully the hopefulness of the film.
However, Durabont has other difficulties, amongst which is the screenplay that he himself authored. Yes, there are times when the screenplay is emotional and heart-breaking, but there are also some foolish, implausible lines that detract from the movie's effect. Words were sometimes spoken when there should have been silence, leaving less interpretation up to the viewer while spitting clichés out from the characters' mouth. I felt that the acting was lacking a bit as well, even though as the viewer gets more used to the characters, their acting seems to fit, albeit imperfectly.
In conclusion, the high points of this film are higher than the low points are low. People generally like this film, and it's easy to see why, as it examines human existence in its own distinctive way. This examination has led it be considered one of the best films of the 1990s.
Final Grade: A-.