I don't care a bit for Shawshank Redemption. Must be the Stephen King origin.
This movie routinely comes up in people's list of favourite, or feel good, or inspiring movies.
I can't remember when I watched it (it wasn't at the cinema), but it left nearly no imprint at all on my memory except for thinking at the time "why do so many people think this is so good?"
Just wanted to put that out there, for no particular reason.
I am no fan of Stephen King but that is a great movie.
ReplyDeleteThen again you don't get Lord of the Rings either.
To each their own.
Geoff
Yeah well I think Paul Kelly is a most overrated muso.
ReplyDeleteBeat that
I couldn't appreciate the movie as much because Stallone pre-empted the movie with one of his own that dealt with a lot of the themes. Stallone's movie had some over the top moments and some corny stuff as you would expect. But 80% of it was as good as the Shawshank redemption so I just couldn't get get into it.
ReplyDeleteI suppose I should clarify that it's not that I took a positive dislike to it - except to the extent of that (kind of) dislike by default that I think everyone does when they see something that is wildly popular amongst others, but they can't understand the enthusiasm.
ReplyDeleteYeah well I think Paul Kelly is a most overrated muso.
ReplyDeleteYou're right.
Re: Shawshank. I can't think of many Hollywood movies from the '90s on that have a true transformative plot that follows the changes in a character or characters through their life - what a good movie and book *should* do. Shawshank does that, at least in part - okay, the main plot about the guy (Andy?) who is in jail for a crime he doesn't commit isn't really a 'transformation' - his fortunes transform but he himself doesn't change. But his friend - whoever Morgan Freeman plays - does have a change of character as he struggles with his fears once he is free.
Shawshank did this and was very very popular. It's an outstander amongst recent Hollywood films in that respect.
I wish I could remember more clearly what I was thinking about it while it was on. I have vague memories of finding it sort of heavy handed, perhaps? (That quality in a film is extremely subjective, though.)
ReplyDelete