• The Shawshank Redemption (1994) -- A triumphant masterpiece of filmmaking, 10/10. TWEET a review with the #JPMN hashtag, and have it featured! VISIT: http://bit.ly/JPMNYT for quick reviews & trailer commentaries ~~ Movie Night Reviews ~~ Incorporating viewer comments and tweets, your host and film critic Jonathan Paula reviews everything from opening day releases, recent DVDs, upcoming trailers, and classics from years past. Along with your votes, each film is scored on the "Rate-O-Matic" for a 1-10 ranking. A "Five Word Summary" quickly encapsulates each review while "Factor Facts" highlight a film's best and worst features in ten key categories. Each "Quick Review" is an excerpt from a full episode, which airs on the Jogwheel channel every Friday, November through May. ~~ Links ~~ Twitter --------------------- http://bit.ly/JonTW Facebook ---------------- http://bit.ly/JonFBFan Main Channel ----------- http://bit.ly/Jogwheel 2nd Channel ------------ http://bit.ly/JonWorld Movie Night Show ----- http://bit.ly/JogJPMN FAQ Video --------------- http://bit.ly/JogFAQv T-Shirts ------------------- http://bit.ly/JogStore ~~ Technical ~~ Created by ------ Jonathan Paula Camera ---------- Panasonic HMC-150 Microphone ----- Sennheiser ME 66 Software --------- Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 Computer ------- http://bit.ly/JAV010 • Jogwheel Productions © 2013 • ~~ Review Script ~~ Released nationwide in October of 1994, this $25-million dollar drama film directed by Frank Darabont unfortunately failed to earn much of a profit, and was initially considered a flop. Thanks to especially strong word of mouth, it became the most rented home video of 1995 though, and its frequent broadcasts on basic cable have since made the 142-minute picture an American classic - and IMDb's number one top-rated film of all time. The R-rated story, based on the novella, "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption", by acclaimed writer Stephen King - follows Tim Robbins , an innocent banker from Maine serving consecutive life sentences in the titular prison. During his decades on the inside, he bonds with the wise Morgan Freeman (in an Oscar nominated role)... whose booming narration ties together the lengthy narrative. William Sadler, Gil Bellows, and elderly character actor James Whitmore round out the unique group of fellow ex-cons. Robbins also faces off against a host of devilish adversaries; a violent gang of prison rapists led by Mark Rolston, Clancy Brown as uncompromising and sadistic guard, and Bob Gunton in perhaps his most iconic role; as the positively despicable and corrupt warden of the penitentiary, who has no issue leveraging Robbins' banking talents for financial gain, only to turn around and toss him in a dark cell for months at a time. The portrayal of these inspirational and frightening characters is accomplished with the highest caliber of skill from all involved, including a particularly poignant scene when Robbins realizes his mantra for survival, "Get busy living... or get busy dying." Set during the mid 20th-century, the allegorical tale of hope and freedom organically meanders from one interesting vignette to the next. It could be argued that many smaller arcs could be excised for a leaner plot, but it's these personal moments that build such a rich and moving tapestry; especially a sequence focusing on Whitmore's release from prison as an old man... struggling to deal with the psychological consequences of being institutionalized his entire adult life. Or Robbins' small act of defiance when he plays a portion of Mozart's " Marriage of Figaro" opera over the prison's PA system - facing certain punishment in the process. The period-authentic vernacular is laced with inventive phrases and colorful insults, allowing for more than a few lighter moments in an otherwise somber picture. Not to be understated is Oscar-nominated cinematographer Roger Deakins's work behind the lens... masterfully filling the 16:9 frame with sweeping shots of the beautiful stone prison, shot on-location in Mansfield, Ohio. Every shot is so meticulously crafted, showcasing the lights, shadows, and emotion of every scene so perfectly, it's a wonder production actually finished ahead of schedule. The strings-heavy soundtrack from Thomas Newman is an atmospheric and moody one, swelling to full volume during the film's spectacularly glorious final act - one of the best in cinema history. A marvelous technical accomplishment in every facet, it's a true shame that this near-flawless piece of storytelling did not win any of its seven Oscar nominations... losing several of them, including a "Best Picture" nomination to "Forrest Gump", which as incredible as it is, was perhaps the less deserving film that year. An effortlessly immersive and satisfying experience, that is enjoyable on every viewing, "The Shawshank Redemption" is "A triumphant masterpiece of filmmaking." ~

• published: 22 Oct 2013
• views: 15535