Wednesday 13 May 2009

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

At a glance:
Who hasn't seen Shawshank, so often misguidedly acclaimed by the cod philosophers as the greatest movie of all time? You can read that it does have some claim to bein the most rented movie in the world, although I'm not sure how anyone can account for that, just like, say, most downloaded pornstar on the web (whom by the way is often said to be Jenna Jameson). Well, many do rate it as their favourite movie and it's easy to see why - fluid, easy-to-understand and soaringly inspirin, Stephen King's short story gets Frank Darabont's best known direction in a nearly two-and-a-half-hour prison break drama that is simply so attractive and rewardin whatever section of the cinemagoin market you represent. It even makes bein a con look cool.
Perennial wonderment:

How three great Hollywood movies were all released in 1994 - Pulp Fiction, Forrest Gump and this.
Reminds me of:

In perhaps my fifth viewin yesterday, the other Darabont projects like The Green Mile or The Mist. All so soaked in their settings.
Watch out for:

Raquel Welch's secret, of course.
Most memorable line:

"That tall drink of water with the silver spoon up his ass"
- this was my favourite expression from the film, although "what is your malfunction, you fat barrel of monkey spunk" has been more useful in my line of work.
Amacam joker, berapa bintang lu mau kasi?

Four stars. I'd have liked more memorable music and perhaps a more elaborate escape but I guess that would've made it another movie. Still, I remember bein so awed by this when I first watched it. Taught me the term institutionalised and also what shitty pipe dreams can mean, if you pardon the pun.