WELCOME EVERYBODY TO THE FIFTH DISCUSSION THREAD OF THE NEW MOVIE CLUB, DESIGNED TO RUN PARALLEL WITH R.O.C.K.S.
A big thanks to everyone that are joining us through all of this. It’s going to be an enjoyable ride!
This week’s film is “The Shawshank Redemption”.
Remember any ideas for films to discuss are most welcome, and should be made on the Movie Club Introduction thread (the sticky one).
Just a friendly reminder to everyone that, whilst fans are obviously welcome to passionately discuss and give their views on these episodes, please remember to keep things on a friendly footing and respect your fellow posters.
Also, please do not post where or how to find the full movie online. And do not post asking others to PM it to you. You are however allowed to watch the movie in whatever manner you want.
The Shawshank Redemption is a wonderful movie.
I have watched the movie and read the book and really enjoyed both.
Stephen King movie adaptions are usually hit and miss but this was definitely a hit.
The movie is very true to the book with only one really notable exception being the casting of Morgan Freeman as Red, who in the book is a white man with red hair.
Tim Robbins was also excellent as Andy.
Just seen it. It’s only the third time I’ve ever seen it, the other times were in 2003 and 2007 respectively. I don’t think I’ve ever pressed pause once while watching it. Well, technically I pressed pause just when I started this afternoon because I forgot to get something from the kitchen, but that was the start of the opening titles so for this purpose it doesn’t count! It truly is one of the greatest films ever made. Five stars without a doubt. Show me a person who doesn’t like this film and I’ll show you a person who can’t be trusted.
This is the ultimate story of hope triumphing against adversity. Every frame of this film is a thing of beauty. The entire sequence of events is beautiful. Sure, it has its dark side, a very dark side in parts, the sick betting on which of the new inmates will be the first to crack on their first night inside, the attempted gang rape, the old librarian unable to adapt to life on the outside and hanging himself, the cold-blooded murder of the man who can vouch for Dufresne’s innocence, it’s disturbing but it all works in context. Any one of those things done badly could have made the film completely unwatchable, but they were done to perfection and the whole thing is gripping from start to finish. There are plenty of happy bits as well though, little victories, like when they get the beers, or the funding for the library, and so on, but especially the ending. When we find out just what Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe and Raquel Welch were all really serving, when the fictitious Randall Stephens takes on a flesh-and-blood form for the only time ever, when the governor and head screw get their comeuppance. The way the details are put in at the start (or in some cases the middle) and then extracted again at the end is a joy to behold. There are few films, even great ones, that have this same level of intricate details put in then extracted again later, and indeed the only other one I can think of off the top of my head that has that much intricacy is Back To The Future (and we WILL do the entire trilogy next year at some point, have no fear!).
And on top of all that, Morgan Freeman’s narrative lifts the entire film up to the level of the sublime. It’s perfect. Everything about this film is perfect. The writing, the acting, the look, all perfect. It really made me wonder why it’s been so long since I last saw it. Well, it won’t be as long before I see it again, I can say for certain!
I should point out I have seen the movie multiple times. IAs I rule I don’t really like watching a movie/programme if I miss the start but Shawshank is on of only a few movies that when it’s on TV I find myself watching it regardless of missing the start.
When I said that Stephen King movies are hit and miss I mean in terms of how they are adapted to the big screen. Some directors stray too far away from the book but some are very faithful. The problem is that some stories are just too long with a lot going on in them that really doesn’t make for an enjoyable movie depending on the genre.
Frank Darabont did a wonderful of getting pretty much everything from the book into the film and making a truly fantastic movie. Quite the polar opposite to the TV movie adaption of The Shining compared to the big screen movie of The Shining directed by Stanley Kubrick. Its strange that the longer version lacks everything the Kubrick’s movie had.
Sorry I’m late. A great choice for the movie discussion! “The Shawshank Redemption” (TSR) is an incredible movie. As of now, it is the number one rated movie on IMDB’s top 250.
Everything about it is just perfect and the movie has a strange addictive quality to it. One would expect that a movie like this would only be enjoyable once, but TSR really has great rewatch value. Whenever I come across it one TV, even if it is in the middle, I find it difficult to change the channel and usually end up watching it again.
A couple of interesting facts for those who might not be aware. The roles of both Andy and Red were initially offered to a number of actors, all of whom turned them down. They probably must be regretting it now. Also upon initial release, the movie didn’t do so well. Movie analysts think that the name of the movie was probably a bit misleading and didn’t really attract the large audience they were expecting.
As Liam said that it is Morgan Freeman’s narrative that lifts the film to an entire new level. The man has a voice that you feel you could go on listening to him forever. I’m guessing that TSR is the movie that started the trend of Freeman often narrating a lot of movies, even the ones in which he is not cast.
I’m aware the film didn’t do well on its initial release, but gradually gathered more “followers” until it became recognised for the classic it is.
I wasn’t aware that the lead roles were offered to other actors, although in most cases that’s usually what happens. I know Frank Darabont said of “The Green Mile” that he actually got every single one of his first choices for each part. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman are both excellent - although I can also picture Tom Hanks as Andy.
Got this from the net:
“Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, Paul Newman and Robert Redford were all considered for the part of Red.”
“Jeff Bridges, Tom Hanks, Kevin Costner, Tom Cruise, Nicolas Cage, Johnny Depp and Charlie Sheen were all considered for the part of Andy Dufresne. Hanks turned it down because he was committed to Forrest Gump (1994). Costner liked the script a lot but was then embroiled in the filming of Waterworld (1995).”
“The role of Tommy Williams was intended for Brad Pitt”
Interesting indeed. So some of them at least turned the part down not because they were uninterested but because they were unavailable. I’ll bet Costner especially is kicking himself now. He chose Waterworld over this!
Also, as for your comments about the rewatch value Wilycub, I think I have an answer. It’s because, in spite of all the brutality and abuse of varying kinds that occurs in the film, the ending is such a feel-good moment that you can put up with the shuddering and gasping bits because you know you’re going to be smiling so broadly at the end.
Interesting indeed. So some of them at least turned the part down not because they were uninterested but because they were unavailable. I’ll bet Costner especially is kicking himself now. He chose Waterworld over this!
Also, as for your comments about the rewatch value Wilycub, I think I have an answer. It’s because, in spite of all the brutality and abuse of varying kinds that occurs in the film, the ending is such a feel-good moment that you can put up with the shuddering and gasping bits because you know you’re going to be smiling so broadly at the end.
Costner also must be kicking himself for choosing “The Postman” over “Air Force One”, a role that was specifically written for him! :frown I know Costner has always been the butt of the joke most of the time, with critics and audiences criticizing his performance and movie choices. I don’t disagree with them, but despite that I have always had a soft spot for Costner. I kinda like his movies, even some of the bad ones. But my favorite has to be “Dances With Wolves”. Perhaps some day we could discuss that in the Movie Club.
That probably is the reason. Also it helps that all the characters are interesting. So no matter on whom the story focuses, the audience are glued to the screen. Whether the scene is about Andy or Red or Brooks or the Warden or Hadley or even Heywood, one doesn’t get bored.
P.S: One of my TV channels was showing “Fight Club” and it occurred to me that it would have been funny if in the original “Movie Club” thread that you created, if in the rules you had written: “The first rule of Movie Club is we do not talk about Movie Club”. :biggrin
