Review of The Shawshank Redemption (1994) by Danny R — 08 Jan 2016

Frank Darabont's captivating, hard-hitting, extremely moving prison drama about a banker named Andy Dufrene, played superbly by Tim Robbins, who is railroaded for a double murder that he did not commit, he is convicted and sentenced to prison for life in the late 1940s.

In prison he meets and befriends a lifer, Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding, played brilliantly by the great Morgan Freeman, who earned a richly deserved Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, and his friends who eventually come to admire Andy's moral code and his ability to get things done, in spite of the heinous, sadistic Warden Norton, played impressive by Bob Gunton, and his brutally ruthless Captain of the Guard, Hadley, chillingly played by Clancy Brown.

A brilliant Academy Award nominated directorial debut by Frank Darabout, who gives his well-crafted epic real heart, with his impressive film-making skills. Exceptional supporting performances by the late James Whitmore, William Sadler, Mark Rolston, Jeffrey DeMunn, Larry Brandenburg, Gil Bellows, David Proval, Brian Libby, and Joseph Ragno.

Striking Academy Award nominated cinematography by Roger Deakins, with an evocative Academy Award nominated score by Thomas Newman. A gripping human drama that is one of the best films of the decade. Nominated for 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture.

Highly Recommended.