Shawshank Redemption

This opinion shares some minor details about the movie in order to leave as much enjoyment and discovery as possible for the new viewer.

Imagine if you will, what it would be like to be sent to prison to serve two consecutive life terms for the murder of your spouse and her lover. Now imagine that you are a banker during the 1940's, and you are innocent, but yet wrongly accused, convicted and imprisoned.

This is exactly what happens in the Shawshank Redemption to one upper-management level banker, Andy Dufresne (played by Tim Robbins).

Andy is sent to Shawshank, a cold and imposing prison, with hardened and brutally vicious inmates. Several of the inmates have it in for Andy, and his first ten years of prison are marked by repeated and often times brutal attacks of rape. But the word defeat does not exist in Andy's vocabulary and soon he becomes well respected by many of the inmates.

His best friend is an African American man by the name of Red (played by Morgan Freeman). Red is also a lifer in Shawshank Prison for murder. Red is the type of guy who knows how to get just about anything a person would need in prison, and this is how Andy first meets Red. Andy is interested in purchasing a rock hammer because of his avid interest in geology. Red is at cautious at first, but eventually he becomes Andy's most treasured and trusted friend.

When a prison guard gets a tip from Andy on how he can save thousands of dollars on his income taxes, Andy soon becomes a trusted worker for the warden. Despite the fact that it appears Andy will never leave prison, except in a casket, he is determined that the truth will eventually prevail and his innocence will be discovered.

The Shawshank Redemption is readily available on cable television at least annually. I would suggest you check TBS, TNT, or USA stations. If you don't wish to wait, but are in need of more immediate gratification, The Shawshank Redemption is available for check-out at your local video store.

Of course, all movies have a few bloopers and the Shawshank Redemption is no exception. Most of the time, we don't notice, but here were just a few of this movie's bloopers that just glared at me:

There is a scene where the Andy convinces a guard to buy several prisoners a few bottles of beer. The beer bottles have twist off tops. I wasn't around in the 1940's, but one thing I do know, they didn't have twist off beer can tops back then.

Another scene shows Andy wearing one of Warden Norton's suits. Andy is at least a foot taller than the Warden. Despite this difference in body frames, the suit seems to fit Andy perfectly.

I am not in anyway meaning to imply that this is not a good movie. I can live with a few bloopers. The main thing is whether or not the movie is believeable, and I believe in this movie! I have personally watched the Shawshank Redemption five or six times. It is without a doubt, one of the best prison movies available on the market. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman's characters are quite likeable. Even though it is a far stretch from the imagination that one would really like a convicted murderer, a person cannot help but respect and enjoy the company of both Andy and Red.

This movie is rated R and is two hours and twenty-two minutes long. Due to some rather graphic and violent scenes, the Shawshank Redemption is definitely not a movie for the weak at heart. However, if you enjoy watching prison movies, then Shawshank Redemption will quickly be on your best of the best and must see again and again list.

As with all movies rated R, please do not let young children view this movie. Even the edited version for television would be inappropriate for younger viewing audiences.

So grab some popcorn and curl up by the television with your favorite movie watching partner, and watch the Shawshank Redemption. Remember, I love extra butter on my popcorn!