《肖申克的救赎》影评

Review of the Shawshank Redemption

Abstract:

It is really an amazing movie I have ever seen in my lifetime. The cast and the story of the movie are really successful. Andy is a passionate character, and he is convicted of murdering his wife and her lover despite his claims of innocence. It is so touching to spend almost two decades in the prison. Old-fashioned prisons in the 90s are full of bad guys who do not expect anything from the life. And, they do not think how they escape here. However, Andy with his close friend in the prison, Red, tries redemption from this prison, by the time, Andy tries to do beautiful things for people in the prison not to attract attention. It is unbelievable that they escape from the prison. But, Andy approaches to place of exit. It is actually amazing, it is really incredible. They go to their dreams to live a peaceful and quiet life. Also, Andy prepares a trap for the chief of the jail. After the redemption, they become free anymore. It is really an amazing movie. Easily one of the best movies made during the 90s and definitely one of the top “prison” movie of all-time. The more time you watch it, the more you love it, and the more you learn from it. An absolutely encouraging story to those who are desperate or sad or complaining about bad luck. If you never give up and try to figure out a way ahead, nothing can stop you to the brightness and freedom. Everything you have experienced will bring you positive influences if you take it positively. I used it to encourage people around me, for example, a girl who is suffering from the depression, a classmate who has just lost her favorite pet, and a friend who lost his job recently.

Key words:

Hope; redemption; freedom; courage

Text:

1.Production

Frank Darabont secured the film adaptation rights from author Stephen King after impressing the author with his short film adaptation of The Woman in the Room in 1983. Although the two had become friends and maintained a pen-pal relationship, Darabont did not work with hin until four years later in1987, when he optioned to adapt Shawshank. This is

one of the more famous Dallar Deals made by King with aspiring filmmakers. Darabont later directed The Green Mile(1999), which was based on another work about a prison by King, and then followed that up with an adaptation of King’s novella The Mist.

Rob Reiner, who had previously adapted King’s novella The body into the film Stand by Me(1986), offered $2.5 million in an attempt to write and direct Shawshank. He planned to cast Tom Ccuise in thepart of Andy and Harrison Ford as Red. Darabont admired and seriously considered Reiner’s vision, but ultimately decided that directing the film himself was his “chance to do something reallygreat”.

2.Themes

Chicago Sun-Times reviewer Roger Ebert argued that The Shawshank Redemption is an allegory for maintaining one’s feeling of self-worth when placed in a hopeless position. Andy Dufredne’s integrity is an inportant theme in the story line, especially in prison, where integrity is lacking. Isaac M, Morehouse suggests that the film provides a great illustration of how characters can be free, even in prison, or unfree, even in freedom, based on their outlooks on life.Actor Tim Robbins noted that the story is unique in depicting a nonsexual love story between two men.

3.Plot

In 1947 Portland, Maine, banker Andy Dufresne is convicted of murdering his wife and her lover, and is sentenced to two consecutivelife sentences at the Shawshank State Penitentiary. Andy is befriended by contraband smuggler, Ellis "Red" Redding, an inmate serving a life sentence. Red procures a rock hammer and later a large poster of Rita Hayworth f or Andy. Working in the prison laundry, Andy is regularly assaulted by "the Sisters" and their leader, Bogs.

In 1949, Andy overhears the captain of the guards, Byron Hadley, complaining about being taxed on an inheritance, and offers to help him legally shelter the money. After an assault by the Sisters nearly kills Andy, Hadley beats Bogs severely. Bogs is then transferred to another prison. Warden Samuel Norton meets Andy and reassigns him to the prison library to assist elderly inmate Brooks Hatlen. Andy's new job is a pretext for him to begin managing financial matters for the prison employees. As time passes, the Warden begins using Andy to handle matters for a variety of people, including guards from other prisons and the warden