THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
A film review by Jeff Pidgeon
Copyright 1994 Jeff Pidgeon
THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION is a strong debut for director Frank Darabont, a screenwriter who sold the script on the provision that he could direct it. This isn't a Film For The Ages, but it is involving and engaging for the majority of its 150-minute running time. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman are both fine as convicts who meet in Shawshank Prison in the late 40's and get to know each other as they do time together. The suspense mainly revolves around 1) whether Robbins will continue to survive prison life; and 2) whether he should be there at all. The script does a decent job of sustaining these elements and keeping the viewer in doubt. On the other hand, there are few moments in the story that, once they are revealed, are different than you might expect. For the most part, the satisfying option is usually chosen, the one that will make the audience happy. While this makes for an enjoyable immediate experience , the side effect is that the lack of genuine surprise makes it less enduring than you'd like. On the whole though, aside from script weaknesses and implausibilities (more than a couple), the performances are uniformly strong, if a bit two-dimensional in spots, the period feel of the art direction is thorough yet understated, Thomas Newman's score nicely supports things and is emotional without being too overpowering or treacly. For a prison drama, the violence isn't played up particlarly, but this ain't FREE WILLY, either. For the curious, SHAWSHANK makes for a good night out, as the saying goes. If the concept doesn't grab you from the start, I don't know that it would win you over. Marginally Recommended.
-- - Jeff "I'm a Bearded Lady" Pidgeon
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