“The Shawshank Redemption” is one of my favourite movies of all time, and obviously I’m not alone in that opinion. The Internet Movie Database regularly has it at the number one spot of its 250 list, so I guess the public has spoken. There was a period where the Superstation (a tv channel based in Atlanta now called “Peachtree TV”, I believe) would have the movie on heavy rotation, and despite seeing it pop up every second day, I would always be hard-pressed to change the channel. It’s got a lot going for it, obviously. It’s based on an excellent novella, “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption”, by Stephen King, from the same collection which included “The Body” (the basis for “Stand By Me”), “Apt Pupil (the basis for the similarly-titled Ian McKellan-as-a-secret-Nazi movie) and “The Breathing Method” (which is the basis for putting the book away once you’ve read the other three novellas, ’cause it sucks).
Acting-wise, there’s a lot to like. My personal fave is Clancy Brown as the abusive head guard, but he’s always awesome. Whenever I see Mr. Krabs screaming at Spongebob Squarepants, I’m always concerned that’s he’s going to throw him off a roof (or shoot him from the shadows of a dimly-lit guardtower).
The director, Frank Darabont, followed this up with “The Green Mile”, another Best Picture nominated prison drama based on a Stephen King story, featuring Jeffrey DeMunn. Great flick. Then he did “The Majestic”, about which we will not speak. Recently, he brought “The Walking Dead” into our living rooms, but left the series after the first season, under mysterious circumstances…
Anyway, “Shawshank” is always worth a rewatch, so why not pop it and enjoy some quality cinema? Or, if you’re short on time, why not “Like” this comic on Facebook? All the cool kids are doin’ it.
Great throwback to Shawshank, but also a happy reminder of The Rocketeer (which I was in love with for a short time way back when).
I remember “The Rocketeer” fondly. It was at least partially responsible for my long-term passion for Jennifer Connelly. I’ve since moved on, since she always seems to be breaking mirrors in movies.
dude, never ever ever watch movies like that on TBS/Superstation/Peachtree tv, it cuts out soooo much of the movie and a lot of the good lines are lost!
I enjoy Shawshank, but Green Mile is my favorite Darabont directed film — if I stumble across it while channel surfing I’m hooked. Michael Clarke Duncan is incredible in this movie.
Even noticed in last viewing something I’d not seen before — in the first few minutes, the shot of the hallway in the old folks’ home shows a green floor as well.
“Green Mile”‘s a bit nastier in parts, but it’s also excellent, certainly.
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