The Shawshank Redemption

Shawshank is occasionally my favorite movie. It or Fight Club.

Seeing it on the big screen last night, and seeing it for the first time in about 5 years, has not changed my opinion.


If you break it down, Shawshank falls into the same category that Rudy and Field of Dreams live in - chick flicks for guys. They're unabashedly emotional and set to prey on the things that make all dudes cry or at least get a little misty.

This is far from a bad thing.

Frank Darabont is shockingly competent in his directoral debut. Thankfully, he had the amazing Roger Deakins at his back. The movie still looks great and there's lots of sweeping cinematography going on, much freer than the men in Shawshank. Tim Robbins gives what is still his best dramatic performance and Morgan Freeman used this movie to tell the world how awesome a narrator he is.

Despite a few busted lines (which I don't remember if they're Stephen King's or Darabont's fault) and a singular coincidence that just ultimately serves as a catalyst for the final act, I love this movie.

And I managed to make it through this time with an absence of tears.