FLASHBACK The Shawshank                    Redemption (1994) Staring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, William Sadler, Clancy Brown, Gil Bellows Directed by: Frank Darabount Written by: Frank Darabount U.S.A Box Office: US$28,241,469 Nominated for 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor (Morgan Freeman),  Best Cinematography (Roger Deakins), Best Film Editing (Richard Francis-Bruce), Best Music, Original Score (Thomas Newman), Best Sound (Willie D. Burton, Michael Herbick, Robert J. Litt, Elliot Tyson, Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (Frank Darabont) Disappointingly Overlooked by Kristian Guillermo "The Shawshank Redemption", based on a Stephen King novel, is an entertaining adult drama about the friendship that develops between two men serving life sentences in prison. Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) and Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding (Morgan Freeman) are the central characters of the film.  Robbin's character Andy Dufresne is a banker given a life sentence for allegedly murdering his wife and her lover.   "Red" who actually narrates the story has been inside Shawshank Prison for a long time and is regarded as its leading entrepreneur.  The friendship that develops between these two characters is the focal point of the film, and both Robbins and Freeman are superb in their portrayal of the characters. The structure of the film is straightforward and is similar to most prison dramas.  It initially chronicles Andy's alleged crime, followed by his sentencing, his imprisonment and finally his adjustment to prison life. However, this does not mean that the film is boring and predictable as it does take unexpected twists and turns during the middle passages and towards the end of the movie. "The Shawshank Redemption" is not a prison drama in any conventional sense of the word.  It does not focus on violence and riots which is typical of prison dramas.  There is a lot of warmth and humor in the movie especially between the central characters Andy and "Red".  The film is perhaps a little slow in some parts but it is a small complaint for a movie this satisfying. Rating: ****               << Previous - Next >>