The Shawshank Redemption

Yesterday I went to see one of my favorite movies, The Shawshank Redemption, on the big screen once again and it made me so happy!  Mild-mannered banker Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is convicted of killing his wife and her lover and sentenced to two consecutive life terms despite the fact that he is innocent.  When he arrives at Shawshank State Penitentiary, he is horrified by the violent captain of the guards (Clancy Brown) and the corrupt warden (Bob Gunton) but he refuses to give into his emotions on the first night.  He befriends Ellis "Red" Redding (Morgan Freeman) and uses his skills as a banker to curry favor with the guards and the warden and to help his fellow prisoners.  Throughout his time at Shawshank Andy clings to hope.  I love that he never gives into despair but, instead, he quietly takes steps to obtain his freedom and does so when he deems that he has done enough penance for his sins.  I love that he also instills a sense of hope in Red who believes that he has been institutionalized by his time in prison and wonders if he will suffer the same fate as Brooks (James Whitmore), who is unable to live on the outside after 50 years in prison.  I love the triumphant ending when the two of them reunite in Zihuatanejo, a place with no memory where they can find redemption.  The story is so inspirational and I especially love the scene where Dufresne plays an aria from the opera The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart for the entire prison to remind them that nothing cannot take away the memory of the things they love!  Both Robbins and Freeman give powerful performances that are incredibly moving.  Robbins is so rigid and self-contained in his portrayal of Dufresne that even they way he walks is circumscribed.  This makes the scene where Dufresne raises his arms in victory after escaping from the sewers of the prison so poignant (I wait during the entire movie for this scene).  Finally, the score by Thomas Newman is incredibly beautiful and evocative.  In my opinion, this is one of the best adaptations of a Stephen King story (it is based on the novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption) and I highly recommend seeing it!  You have another chance to see it on the big screen on Wednesday (go here).

Note:  This movie is celebrating its 25th Anniversary which makes me feel old because I remember seeing it in the theater during its first run!