Laura’s Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
This was one of those famous movies that people talk about that I somehow hadn’t seen. It was on Netflix until the end of April so I figured now was the time. Fun fact: most of the movie was shot at the now closed Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio.
The Analysis:
This was an incredible movie. It takes a while for things to start moving but it never feels slow. Each character’s personality is built up gradually, resulting in excellent character development without too much backstory. I like that the film only gently touches on what crime each of the inmates committed to end up in prison. It doesn’t matter. They are prisoners but they are also people. Shawshank Redemption shows the impact that one person can have on the world (or prison) around them. Sometimes persistence, patience, and compassion can pay off. In the case of Andy Dufresne, his upstanding character and undying willpower benefit not only him, but countless other inmates around him.
I think the movie does an excellent job of highlighting flaws within the criminal justice system (as someone with a criminal justice degree, these concepts are personally very interesting and important to me). No matter the intentions, the prison system is not rehabilitative. It does not take criminals and make them ready to re-enter the world as better members of society. If anything, many petty criminals make more criminal connections and commit worse offenses after prison. As the film shows, many ex-cons, especially those who have spent the majority of their life behind bars, feel hopeless and lost upon being released. They may have no family or friends, may have little to no money to start a new life, or might just be so used to prison that the shock of civilian life is too much for them.
I was surprised by the twist and as I’ve said before, I love a good twist. Even after a couple key reveals, the movie stays intriguing through the final scene. This movie made me laugh, cry, and smile; Shawshank Redemption was serious when it needed to be but was still enjoyable and left the viewer with a sense of hope. Maybe not the movie for a first date, but definitely a movie everyone should see.
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