More than Words can Say. Review on Shawshank Redemption Movie

This movie is perhaps the best prison escape movies I've ever seen,matching even the classics like Papillon and The Great Escape in its direction,scriptwriting and photography. This movie is not only about an escape,its about hope, about freedom and resurrection,about love and the spirit of friendship.

I strongly believe this is one of Tim Robbin's best performances,supported by the finesse of Morgan Freeman. The film centers around the life of Andy Dufresne(Tim Robbins) a successful banker who is wrongly convicted of murdering his adulterous wife and her lover in cold blood. He is sent to a colossal prison called Shawshank where he meets Ellis boyd(Morgan Freeman) who has been in the prison for a long time and is known in and around the prison for his ability to pass contraband goods into the inmates.

Morgan's first impression of Tim Robbins says- ''... must admit, I didn't think much of Andy first time I laid eyes on him. Looked like a stiff breeze would blow him over. That was my first impression of the man....''

But Andy proves to be a thoroughly different character. After the initial problems of attuning to the prison ways,during which he reamins entirely within himself, he befriends Red and his folk of friends. He bears the atrocities and the pains silently, and yet in this silence his face sparkles with a determination,a silent voice inside that screams for justice, for freedom.

One day during a prison work-out to renovate the roof of a factory,Andy walks over to the callous Mr. Hadley,the second-in-charge of the prison who is desperate to find a solution to the high tax he would have to pay for inheriting his brothers estate hand-overs,all to the surprise and shock of Red and others. But Andy manages to provide the solution all at the cost of ''...three beers apiece for each of my co-workers...I think a man workin' outdoors feels more like a man if he can have a bottle of suds. That's only my opinion''

And so it happens. And the next scene shows Red and the others enjoying their beers,like sweet manna,the taste that they had almost forgotten,while Andy sits in a corner,a mysterious smile of satisfaction in his visage.

Andy becomes a central figure in Shawshank,giving tax saving solutions to the prison officials,he opens up a library where inmates can read and listen to sweet classics over an old rusty gramaphone,a small school where inmates can complete their study and give exams,and becomes the private secretary of the Prison Warden Mr. Norton(Bob Gunton). During this period Andy comes to know of the illegal money launderings involvement of the warden in the name of prisoners-delivered community service.

The turning point comes when a young Tommy Williams (Gil Bellows) comes to Shawshank. Tommy knew a certain criminal who had killed many innocent people and it turns out that this same fellow had actually killed Andy's wife. Seeing this as his last chance for freedom,of washing himself off the sin he had not commited,Andy storms to the wardens office and tells him the entire story. He also promises-''..Sir, if I were ever to get out, I would never mention what goes on in here. I'd be just as indictable as you for laundering that money...''

But the warden fearing the obvious, gets Tommy killed in the prison. This news tears Andy apart. He realizes there is no hope now,or perhaps there is. He fetches a rope and sits one last time with Red expressing his inner thoughts-''...You know what the Mexicans say about the Pacific? They say it has no memory. That's where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory. Open up a little hotel right on the beach. Buy some worthless old boat and fix it up new. Take my guests out charter fishing...

That night, Red remininsces ''..was the longest night of my life..''...in the next cell,Andy sits with the rope in his hand,as streaks of lightning fall into Andy's face. Then there is darkness.

The next day it is discovered that Andy has escaped. In the words of the warden-''... Lord! It's a miracle! Man up and vanished like a fart in the wind. Nothin' left but some damn rocks on the window sill and that cupcake on the wall...''

And I tell you everyone it would be impossible to figure out how Andy really escapes. In the best spirit I leave this part for you guys to figure out yourself. Infact it is this very 5 minutes that prove the ingenuity of the movie.

After some months, Red finally gets his release. And he remembers what Andy had told him-''..There's a big hayfield up near Buxton...One in particular. It's got a long rock wall, a big oak tree at the north end. It's like something out of a Robert Frost poem. It's where I asked my wife to marry me. We went there for a picnic and made love under that oak and I asked and she said yes. Promise me, Red. If you ever get out, find that spot. In the base of that wall, you'll find a rock that has no earthly business in a Maine hayfield. A piece of black, volcanic glass. There's something buried under it I want you to have...''

And when Red gets to the spot,he find a rusty old box which contains the address and money of Andy. And they finally meet, near a beach like place,the waters flowing,the sea-gulls flying,both smile and walk towards each other.....

Apart from the main scenes there were others like old Brooks Hatlen(James Whitmore) committing suicide unable to bear his release from a place that was not a prison,but a home,leaving a scratch on the sill saying-''Brooks was here''.

This move teaches us all to hope and it also shows that Injustice never lies hidden. Although our lives are full of incalculable complexities,of selfish intentions intertwining amongst themselves, there is a way,a way for each one of us. What I particularly liked about Shawshank Redemption is the unusually poignant script and the background delivery of the dialogues in Freeman's voice. Everything seemed to blend so perfectly!

Shawshank Redemption was nominated for 7 oscars. I was surprised it didnt win a single. Perhaps it was the parallel release of movies like Forrest Gump, Pulp Fiction, and Speed that took away all the glory. But I dont think winning an oscar is a reason for watching a movie. Go ahead watch it and I am sure you'll see things in a very different light after you're done.

Three cheers!