MOVIE REVIEW - Shawshank Redemption, The (1994)

SPOILERS AHEAD! A theater in Louisville showed my favorite movie of all time at a midnight showing, so I was able to see this treasure on the big screen once again (I saw it during initial release). Every time I watch it, Shawshank becomes my all-time favorite movie once again. Morgan Freeman's narration sets the perfect tone of quiet contemplation - you know it'll all be ok, but it may be a rough ride along the way. And boy, is it rough. Early scenes include Fat Ass dying on his first night in prison; Andy Duphresne defending but failing against the queens; and the harshness of Captain Hadley's punishment. But then comes the buds of friendship between Morgan's Red and Andy. That first conversation was so understated, yet excellent - "I understand you're a man who gets things done." Morgan likes Andy from the beginning, but neither knew yet the hope their friendship would bring each other. Andy never said who beat him up - he was honorable and kept to himself. Until the spring of 1949 on the roof, when his tax knowledge changed everything. The look of Morgan's face after Andy saved Hadley's money was priceless. Why did Andy ask for the beer for his friends? "I think he did it just to feel normal again, if only for a short while." But prison still steals from a man. Red says, "These walls are funny. First you hate them, then you get used to them. Then, you can't live without them. They send you here for life, and that's exactly what they take from you." Which leads to the saddest part of the movie - Brooks. The sadness on James Whitmore's face as he's leaving the prison on the bus - wow, what a picture - so sad, so long. He should've been nominated for this powerful performance (RIP).

Andy's overtaking of the opera music was the beginning of hope in the movie, and it gives such a warm emotion to watch the entire prison yard hush. This is the most unrealistic scene in the movie, but ignoring that, it's also very poignant. And it's the beginning of us seeing Andy's hope. "Hope is a dangerous thing. It can drive a man insane." When Andy gives Red the harmonica, it is the most beautiful expression of friendship. What a lovely scene.

The most shocking scene is the warden's treatment of Tommy. On the verge of hope in so many directions, shot down. Wow, the gasps in the theater (including mine, when I've seen the movie 20 times before) were palpable. But it leads to Andy's breaking point in 1966. What a beautiful 20 minute climax - emotions soar, cleverness abounds, the warden doesn't quite make it home that day, and we see that "some birds aren't meant to be caged." What a fantastic tree in the field in Buxton, where we hear Red say the name of the town, Zihuatanejo, just before saying those most wonderful closing lines: "I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend, and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope."