Shawshank Redemption is a story of hope and friendship. Andy[Tim Robbins] has a life sentence for a crime he didn’t commit, even though all the evidence pointed at him. We see him get used to the prison routine and find a way to get by. His first day there no one knew what was coming; he was bet on to cry and crack his first night. Surprisingly he didn’t make a sound.
Red [Morgan Freeman] lost that bet and ends up being friends with Andy. He’s astonished about how Andy doesn’t let those around him and the walls of the prison get to him. That he can still hold his head up high in hope. Some men take advantage of others, some will do anything to get out, and others will do anything to stay in. Once you’ve been someplace for so long, you get used to it. Red calls it “institutionalized,” that “they put you in here for life and that’s exactly what they take from you.” That part really got to me, how can someone get used to such a place? Grow to like it, feel safe in it and get stressed out when they’re set free?
On the outside Andy was a hot shot banker which helps him rise in status in Shawshank Prison. He starts doing taxes for the guards and gets taken care of by the warden as a reward for keeping all his dirty secrets. Andy makes friends and tries to help others, he starts helping out prisoners who want their high school diplomas.
Andy is too important to the warden by now, he knows too much. So when Andy tells him about the real guy who committed the murder he’s in jail for, he can’t let Andy free. Andy starts to catch on about how badly he’s being used and how he needs to get out of there now. But how, with a life sentence over his head and the warden’s leash around him?
This movie tells a great story, Andy gives the prisoners a few moments of bliss, helps them feel as if they’re free. He reminds them of the things the guards and the warden can’t take away from them, hope, music, and their memories. I won’t ruin the ending but I’ll let you know that after all the pain and degrading that Andy goes through, he ends up getting the last laugh :]
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