#12, The Shawshank Redemption

This film has an unusual history, from what I know. Faring poorly when it was released in theaters, it went on to become to most rented video of all time, and its popularity soared well after it had left movie screens. It's rated as #2 on imdb's top 100 list, right behind The Godfather. I suppose the early 90's are when rental films started to become a popular cultural phenomenon, and Shawshank simply had the right ingredients to ride the trend as much as it did. And somehow, it's managed to maintain its popularity. There was a documentary piece on the DVD that was about Shawshank's history, but I didn't get a chance to watch it. If anyone's seen it, let me know.

Anyway, while I wouldn't rank Shawshank as the second greatest film ever made, it did exceed my expectations, and I was impressed by how engaging it was. It was another film that managed to touch me emotionally at certain points, especially towards the end. In fact, the practical part of me wants to say that Tim Robbins standing in the rain with his arms outstretched in a vaguely Jesus-esque manner was far too cheesy and laughable, but in truth, it gave me a bit of that warm-fuzzy feeling. That moment was more powerful than it had any right to be, though I will say it would not have been successful without the set-up given the rest of the scene.

Powerful, actually, is a good word to describe the film in general, and is certainly the intent behind it. While it is definitely mainstream contemporary Hollywood, it's mainstream contemporary Hollywood at its best. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman give the best performances I've ever seen them give, and are really the heart of the film. While I do have problems with Freeman's very specific type-casting, he is nonetheless stellar in Shawshank, and I suppose its before his typecasting became so established. Every moment the two characters are on screen is a joy, and they turn what could have otherwise been a conventional, feel-good narrative into a real epic and both artistic and human triumph.

Shawshank is another film where the conventional narrative almost seems to have been broken down into a series of vignettes and episodes, which does an excellent job of helping the viewer connect to the film from moment to moment, and present the characters in very real manners. As director, then, Darabont, who has done nothing else notable except The Green Mile, which I also liked, handles the film very well, and seems to have a good grasp of what he wants to convey, and how to convey it. For the most part, he stays out of the way, simply setting the scenes and letting Freeman, Robbin, and the others characters carry the message and aesthetic of the piece. He seems to have a great deal of trust in his actors, a method which, being an actor myself, I appreciate greatly, and is the perfect fit for this film. He manages to very consistently maintain the overall mood of the piece, while still shifting between distinct moments spanning several decades. There actually is a profound sense of time passing and the world aging, while the characters live out their existence inside Shawshank (even if the characters don't physically age all that much...).

I will say, though, that aesthetically, the film doesn't have that much going for it. There's nothing really that innovative about the filmaking, and while Darabont is correct in letting his actors carry the film and the general structure is well done, he doesn't really offer much otherwise. It's good, but nothing spectacular.

And to think, it was based on something written by Stephen King of all people. There are some good films adaptations of his work. Maybe I should give his writing another go...

Highlights: Spectacular performances from Robbins and Freeman. A wonderful sense of time and sentimentality, and a story that kept you engaged. Wonderful last half hour or so. Very well put together.

Downers: I really didn't buy that the same Guard Captain and same Warden would stay at the prison for over twenty years, especially without seeming to age a day. I also couldn't really understand their actions at some points. Some other secondary characters fade into the background a bit too much. Some moments were a bit too cheesy and Hollywood. I wanted to see Freeman play the harmonica, damnit. Aesthetically unremarkable.

Surprisingly difficult to rate. The acting really makes it.
8.5/10