HUM 110 Module 6 Assignment
Film Critique: The Shawshank Redemption
Frank Darabont’s “The Shawshank Redemption” is a timeless piece of cinema that has stood the test of time and continues to be adored and appreciated by audiences. The movie was released in 1994, and it is based on Stephen King’s novel published in 1982, “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.” Darabont also wrote the screenplay for the movie, and he is famous for his adaptations of Stephen King’s books, as well as for the movie “The Green Mile” (1999). The Shawshank Redemption is a movie that revolves around two prisoners, Andy Dufresne and Ellis ‘Red’ Redding, who become friends while serving time in the Shawshank State Penitentiary – a brutal, maximum-security prison in Maine. The film shows how the characters find hope and friendship and how people can change during the most difficult times.
It is possible to conclude that Darabont’s directorial decisions in “The Shawshank Redemption” are singular and aestheticist. Another important and easily noticeable element of the film is that Darabont uses camera angles and framing to create an atmosphere of confinement and oppression in the prison. Some of the scenes include low angles that make the prison walls, and the guards seem overpowering and that there is no way out. On the other hand, scenes of hope and liberty, like when Andy gets out to the roof, are shot at a high altitude and are full of freedom (Marlina et al., 2021). Darabont also effectively utilizes the concept of montage, which creates the flow of time in the movie: the change of seasons or the time-telling prisoner routines. All these stylistic features complement each other to create a complete picture of the world of Shawshank and the events in the lives of the characters.
The personal transformations of the main characters, Andy and Red, are at the core of the film’s dramatic impact. Andy, portrayed by Tim Robbins, is a gentle and sensitive man who is sent to jail for a crime he never committed. However, he does not lose the spirit of fighting for his innocence and winning his freedom from prison. Red, played by Morgan Freeman, narrates the movie and is a long-serving prisoner who has accepted his fate. Slowly and surely, he loses his cynicism and fatalism for the young Andy and her optimism. While following the story of two strangers who become friends, the viewer sees how they help each other change their lives for the better and find hope despite the difficult circumstances.
The themes of hope, optimism, and victory of the human spirit in the movie Shawshank Redemption make it relevant to the modern generation. The themes of the film, such as the injustice and dehumanization experienced in the prison system and the need to be human despite the circumstances, are some of the issues that are pertinent in society today. In addition, the movie is a true embodiment of friendship, transformation, and people’s desire to achieve their goals and dreams in spite of adversities, which makes the movie inspiring and appealing to the audience. The audience’s integrity is preserved in Darabont’s work and the film’s strong ending. The final scene, which shows Andy’s long-awaited escape, is surprising and deeply rewarding, and the viewer feels convinced that even in the worst of situations, the spirit will prevail (Marlina et al., 2021). Shawshank is a classic that proves the importance of the art of cinema and its ability to influence the lives of millions of viewers.
References
Marlina, T. H., Kustantinah, I., & Widiyanto, M. W. (2021). A Study on Moral Values Represented in Shawshank Redemption Movie. Allure Journal, 1(1), 22-32.
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Question
HUM 110 Module 6 Assignment
For this module assignment, you are the critic. Choose a film to critique. (Try to choose a film you can view multiple times.)
In essay form, answer the following:
HUM 110 Module 6 Assignment
- Name of the movie, director, and year it was produced. (Give a brief context of the director, and year this director created in.
- Is the style used to create this film unique to the art form? (Remember, film is an art of choices; name and describe one or two interesting directorial choices in this movie. These could include use of montage or camera angles. Or, the choices could include use of music or use of POV shots.)
- Do the characters have complex inner lives? (Name two of the leading characters, and describe their context, actions, and reactions.)
- Are the actions on the screen relevant to the times? (What is the theme? Does the theme of this film speak to our era of time? How does this theme speak to this generation?)
- Is the integrity of the audience respected? (Especially comment on the ending of this movie. Is it fitting? Does it make sense?)
Please write AT LEAST one paragraph for questions 2 – 4. Use good grammar and mechanics, and proper citation of sources. Do not use filler words such as “I think,” “In my opinion,” or “I feel.”