The movie critique portion of this review was written by my colleague Michele Arbir.
Stephen King is one of my all time favorite authors. I may not be able to read all he has written since he has such an amazing imagination that his output is nearly unending. What I can read, I love and can read over and over, like Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. As much as I love reading, I love when a book such as Mr. King’s becomes a film. We all know the book is always better than the movie, but every now and then Hollywood nails it. There have been many adaptations to King’s books but two stand out for me as favorites: The Green Mile (1999) and The Shawshank Redemption (1994). The latter was first to hit the screens and has since become a film everyone can watch over and over to stand the test of time.
The film follows two imprisoned men, one a former successful banker Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) wrongfully convicted, the other long-term inmate “Red” a black marketeer, bond over a number of years. In jail they find solace and eventually redemption through acts of common decency. They show that while one can be in prison and locked away in a cell, you can never truly be imprisoned.
The Shawshank Redemption represents the one thing in life we should never give up and that’s hope. One of the best lines of the movie is: “Hope is a good thing, probably the best of all and a good thing that never dies.” This is what humanity needs most and is the theme throughout the film. Morgan Freeman plays the role of Red, a persuasive prisoner who also narrates the story from his perspective. Now, you know right there that you are going to be drawn right into the film just by hearing his exquisite voice. Although he is narrating the story, he is really telling the journey of the lead character Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins). Casting is one of the great things about this film. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman give outstanding performances. Both actors were nominated for numerous awards that season. That being said, you know when a movie is good when it makes you feel the protagonist’s feelings. I can’t say enough about the acting in this film.
What also makes this film so engaging is the screenplay adaptation written by Frank Darabont. The story is written in a way that makes the audience care about Andy and Red and their plight. When a book becomes a film sometimes we lose that but in this adaption we get that feeling all the way through till the end. This feature is technically impressive with the costume design and production design within the prison serving as highlights. It captures the feel of the prison astonishingly well and makes you feel like you’re actually in 1947. Thomas Newman composed the score and is just as amazing as alway, delivering a heart-wrenching and emotionally powerful soundtrack. The Shawshank Redemption was nominated for seven Academy Awards in 1995, the most for a Stephen King film adaptation. Although none were won, this film will always stand out as a classic.
The Shawshank Redemption is a brilliant movie that knows exactly how to tug at the heartstrings of the viewers. The characters shine throughout with sensations of pain, shock and happiness that stick with you the whole movie. I love that the movie didn’t focus much on trying to prove Andy’s innocence. He knew he was innocent, and so did we, and we also both knew there was no point in trying to prove it. With this film it doesn’t matter who is innocent or guilty, and that right there is part of what makes this film so powerful. The characters are flawed and grow throughout the movie, and the ones we lose along the way are truly heartbreaking. The only thing I could maybe complain about is the length; the film starts with a slow build, yet even despite the length it is still entertaining and engaging. Darabont beautifully directed and photographed this film. It’s hard to find any flaws here other than being a little long. The Shawshank Redemption paved the way for movies to come. This movie combines a great plot with great actors, and I promise you will not be let down.
Video Quality
The Shawshank Redemption makes its long-awaited 4K UHD Blu-Ray debut with a stunning 2160p HDR10 transfer that allows the film to look better than it ever has. When compared to the old included Blu-Ray, this disc offers monumental improvements in all respects. That release was plagued with an overly bright appearance and some significant video noise that has been rectified here. This 4K master has a lovely amount of natural film grain that allows this movie to shine and gives a lot of pleasing texture and detail to the transfer. For the first time on home entertainment, you can clearly see specific text such as prison guard badges. The image presents with a miraculous amount of depth that makes this isolated prison feel more three dimensional than ever. The improvements in contrast and overall clarity are outstanding, especially when you look at the scene with the men working on the roof under the hot sun.
The UHD disc contains a slightly cooler color palette that cinematographer Roger Deakins describes as his original intention compared to the more over-saturated look of the previous disc. The most impressive moments of HDR implementation are in the film’s exterior locations with vegetation and changing seasons which provide colors that radiate naturally with a pleasing intensity. White levels offer a greater stability without veering into blooming. Black levels struggle ever so slightly with crush, but for the most part it maintains a strong amount of depth and detail in darker environments. Skin tones look natural and the clarity of the transfer gives you a great amount of facial detail including the grime from working in the hot sun or digging out of a tunnel. This transfer is a treat for fans of the film and should stand as the best representation of this film at this time.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray comes with a solid Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless audio track that offers a mostly pleasing representation of the film. This is similar to the track from the previous Blu-Ray, but a new Dolby Atmos presentation might have been the way to go with this new release to open up the environments a bit more. The award-nominated sound design does not push the limits of dynamic implementation due to its reserved narrative, but it does open up the world in a really fulfilling way. The movie is more conservative when it comes to filling the surround speakers in terms of the din of the prison.
The score from Thomas Newman is presented with an impressive amount of clarity and fidelity. Music is used skillfully throughout the presentation, but it never overpowers the dialogue or other important information. The dialogue that is so key to bringing more heart to the proceedings comes through clearly, but does run slightly hot at its peaks when the volume is louder. Rear speakers are used to complement the front-heavy mix rather than carry the main load. The low-end support is surprisingly hefty with instances of heavy cell doors closing and the industrial machinery humming along. The film does not provide reference-level audio, but it is a more than suitable presentation for the feature.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Director and Screenwriter Frank Darabont provides a commentary track which was recorded for its 10th anniversary DVD release and serves as a very illuminating listen filled with humorous anecdotes and technical information. Darabont does a nice job of explaining why certain creative choices were made, the close relationship he has with certain performers, his approach to adapting the source material, what it was like shooting in a real prison and much more.
- Hope Springs Eternal – A Look Back At The Shawshank Redemption: A 31-minute documentary featurette in which the cast and crew begin by discussing how the poor box office reception and the confusing title led to initial disappointment, the resurgence the film has had in popular culture, the themes within the story, as well as production elements like the casting, adapting the source material, production design and the score. The participants make some poignant connections to the themes of the film that are really a joy to experience.
- Shawshank – The Redeeming Feature: A 48-minute BBC piece hosted by British film critic Mark Kermode which delves into the legacy of this film. There is a lot of info that is shared with the previous supplement, but both have some really engaging information about the production and history of the film as told by the people intimately involved with it.
- The Charlie Rose Show with Frank Darabont, Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman: A 42-minute episode of the long-running show that brings together the director and stars of The Shawshank Redemption to deliver an engaging interview for its 10th anniversary. While much of the information can be found in other supplements on this disc, the joy of this piece is seeing these men react to one another around this table and feed off of one another.
- The SharkTank Redemption: A 25-minute parody short starring Morgan Freeman’s son Alfonso as a Hollywood assistant who is trying to secure a promotion by appealing to a board of his superiors. This is fitfully amusing, but mostly unnecessary.
- Stills: A collection of stills are provided here under the categories of Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Supporting Cast, Tim & Morgan, Behind The Scenes, Shawshank Storyboards and Shawshank Collectibles.
- Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute 10th anniversary trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
The Shawshank Redemption may have not seemed like a future American classic upon its original release, but the enduring legacy of the feature has justified its place among the most beloved films of all time. There is a special magic that Frank Darabont brings to Stephen King adaptations which never fails to inspire awe in the audience. In this case, having Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman in your film does not hurt matters. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has released a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray which trounces over the previous Blu-Ray with a great A/V presentation and a pleasing array of legacy special features. If you love this film, you will want to own it in the best quality possible. Highly Recommended
The Shawshank Redemption is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
