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The Shawshank Redemption

             "The Shawshank Redemption".
             Film Review.
             Cold steel bars line the thick concrete walls. Foot steps are heard echoing down a long dark hallway, followed by the sound of a nightstick slapping against the heel of a man's hand. Weeping from a small cell block bounces off of the cold dark walls that won't even let darkness escape. As the commanding officer stands in front of the cell block, the prisoner pleads his innocence.
             Without hesitation, the officer orders his men to open the cell gate. Immediately the officer grabs the prisoner and delivers a large blow to the man's gut with his night stick. Now crying, the man is on the cold pale concrete floor as the officer continues to beat him until he stops moving. The commanding officer then puts his hat back on, and walks away with his men, leaving the battered man on the floor. This is the world that Andy Dufresne has entered. He now will face one of the most difficult challenges of his life; to prove that he is an innocent man wrongly convicted.
             The Shawshank Redemption is a film about a young tax accountant who is wrongfully accused for murdering his wife and her lover. He was sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind the bars of Maine's Shawshank State Prison. There, Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) befriends Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding (Morgan Freeman). Throughout the story, Andy realizes the way and life of Shawshank. He eventually becomes well liked by everyone, while working on trying to request a retrial for his sentence.
             The film itself is an extremely powerful film that has a well developed story which flows very fluently. The script is extremely original and authentic. Each character delivers a strong performance that brings the audience into their world at Shawshank. Throughout the film, the audience becomes a part of "Red" and Andy's gang, as if they were living in the state prison for years.


Essays Related to The Shawshank Redemption

1. SHAW SHANK REDEMPTION

... . Throughout both films the main issues are the corruption within the penitentiaries by a select number of guards and the wardens, the rehabilitation and redemption process which the in-mates had to encounter (punishment), the brutality of the prison system, and the friendships which were formed within the prisons. The subject matter/plot and characters of both these movies are similar in many ways they both contribute the same message. The movie "The Shawshank Redemption" has excellent examples ... you depend on them. That's institutionalized. They send you here for life, that's exactly...

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2. Shawshank Redemption

... helped people, and didn't need a book of laws to tell him to be moral. He just was. And so in this way, The Shawshank Redemption does a masterful job of making the point that morality does not lie in religion but in the hearts of men. The Shawshank Redemption is not all about religion and morality. As mentioned earlier, while showing kindness to his friends and doing chores for ... that made The Shawshank Redemption such a masterpiece was the music. Many people do not realize the significant role music has in films. For example, using the film, Dangerous Minds with Michelle Pfeiffer, an...

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3. Shawshank Redemption

... friends with another inmate named "Red". The partnership between Andy and "Red" supports the crucial way the story unfolds. Three reasons to recognize The Shawshank Redemption as an extraordinary film include the strength of its performers, partnership between the characters, and the fight against despair. One quality that makes The Shawshank Redemption an outstanding movie involves the fight against despair. Where lesser men ... life sentences in prison become friends and find a way to fight off despair. Another quality that makes The Shawshank Redemption a great film involves the partn...

  • Word Count: 910
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
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4. Shawshank Review

... in prison and threatens to drive its inmates mad: hope. Turner Broadcasting System Inc.'s big bet on theatrical movies paid off, when The Shawshank Redemption posted record ratings on Turner Network Television. With its June premiere, The Shawshank Redemption became the most-watched theatrical ever. The film's network premiere did a 4.9 rating in its coverage area during its eight p.m. showing, according to Nielsen Media Research, and a 3.8 rating in its ... something that so exemplifies your existence, that it's almost painful. One man had such an experience while watching The Shawshan...

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5. shawshank redemption

... of the examples are the same in both forms, the example that is different still holds a similar interpretation and lesson about not only prison but also the larger context of life. The director's technique to portray the same theme was a good idea for the film, proving to the viewer the theme of freedom still is maintained in the film. Bibliography BOOK "The Shawshank Redemption" Stephan King, The Shawshank Redemption United States, The Ballantine Publishing Group, 1982 MOVIE "The Shawshank Redemption ... " Director: Frank Darabont, Screenplay: Based on The Shawshank Redemption by Stephe...

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6. The Use of Contrast in The Shawshank Redemption

... used by Frank Darabont in "The Shawshank Redemption" to convey the main ideas of hope and freedom. He contrasts the cruel environment of the prison to the prison library, the rooftop scene and the symbol of birds to communicate and emphasise the importance of this idea. The introduction of Shawshank prison shows the harsh mental and physical treatment of the prisoners. When Andy Dufrane first enters the prison, the character known only as 'Fat ... is used alongside a free bird's eye view shot in contrast with the prisoners' drab colours and the lifelessness of Shawshank to emphasise the...

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  • Grade Level: High School

7. Symbolism of water in The Shawshank Redemption.

... new growth. In drama, water serves a similar purpose, yet on a more symbolic level. The presence of water in The Shawshank Redemption symbolizes the change and rebirth of the two main characters, Andy and Red. Skillfully integrated into the movie, people subconsciously comprehend the importance of water in this film without being hit with an overt statement explaining its significance. ... Six specific scenes from The Shawshank Redemption illustrate the powerful employment of water as a symbolic tool. On the witness stand, Andy ... When water is reflected through art, be it poetry, pain...

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8. Red's Redemption - The Shawshank Redemption

... , it is the last thing to die, they say. In "Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption," by Stephen King, the story surrounds two convicts, Andy Dufresne and Red. Based on a fiction novella, the author portrays their lives and other inmates who endure the horrors of prison. In a way, they help each other out to survive the confinement, corruption, and the dehumanization at the Shawshank State prison. ... When Andy, an innocent murderer joins the jail bunch, he ... job and travels to Zihuatanejo, Mexico to meet his friend, Andy. In Stephen King's novella, 'Rita Hayworth and The Shawshan...

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  • Approx Pages: 4
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9. The Shawshank Redemption - Directed by Frank Darabont

... can be encountered in a dark and deceitful place, how both literal and figurative walls trap Andy. To the end, Darabont uses symbolism in his description of setting, in his use of camera angles and lighting. The setting of "The Shawshank Redemption" is complete with strong symbolism.The Shawshank prison is a dark, deceitful place of confinement where inmates spend their days letting their minds wonder over ... the little things in their lifetime. It's walls stained grey and black; its bars are rusty and cold; rooms ... to go through with his plan to escape, Red is to leaning on the wal...

  • Word Count: 1083
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