“Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”
It’s a movie that you can’t turn off….because “no good thing ever dies…”
For this “Cult Movie Monday”, it’s time to revisit one of Stephen Kings best novellas – turned into one of the greatest films ever!
Behold The Beauty Of “Zihuatanejo”!
Few times in the history of film has a single film location meant so much to the audience…and if you know what “Zihuatanejo” means, then you know one of the greatest, most intense and uplifting films of all time!
There are so many great moments in this film – one of the greatest movies ever – and it is easy to forget that it began as a Stephen King novella! Time to explore the majesty of “The Shawshank Redemption!”
The Shawshank Redemption – Directed by Frank Darabont – released in 1994
Just how beloved is this movie? Well, consider this: the classic British film magazine Empire voted “The Shawshank Redemption” the best movie OF ALL TIME!
First, let’s watch the trailer:
“The Shawshank Redemption” has continued to grow in stature over the years and now routinely ends up on lists of the best films of all time. There are few movies that have a more satisfying conclusion than this one…
First, a quick recap of the plot: Tim Robbins is Andy Dufresne – a young and successful banker whose life changes drastically when he is convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife and her lover. Set in the 1940’s, the film shows how Andy, with the help of his friend Red, the prison entrepreneur, turns out to be a most unconventional prisoner.
Morgan Freeman’s narration helps propel the story, and also provides an additional layer of empathy and sadness to the story…like when he watches the new convicts arrive at the prison…
Red: “The first night’s the toughest, no doubt about it. They march you in naked as the day you were born, skin burning and half blind from that delousing shit they throw on you, and when they put you in that cell… and those bars slam home… that’s when you know it’s for real. A whole life blown away in the blink of an eye. Nothing left but all the time in the world to think about it.”
Morgan Freeman befriends Andy and narrates the film, including some tough sequences when Andy is set upon by the prison’s sexual predators:
Red: [narrating] “I wish I could tell you that Andy fought the good fight, and the Sisters let him be. I wish I could tell you that – but prison is no fairy-tale world. He never said who did it, but we all knew. Things went on like that for awhile – prison life consists of routine, and then more routine. Every so often, Andy would show up with fresh bruises. The Sisters kept at him – sometimes he was able to fight ’em off, sometimes not. And that’s how it went for Andy – that was his routine. I do believe those first two years were the worst for him, and I also believe that if things had gone on that way, this place would have got the best of him.”
Yet this brutal scene only serves to make the ultimate “redemption” even more uplifting…
Interestingly, in Stephen King’s original story, “Red” was written as a white Irishman. In the movie, they left the line, “Maybe it’s ’cause I’m Irish”, in as a joke, even after they had cast Morgan Freeman as “Red.”
Cue Zihuatanejo!
And of course, Zihuatanejo plays a big role in the film, even when they are in prison…
Andy Dufresne: “You know what the Mexicans say about the Pacific?
Red: No.
Andy Dufresne: They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory.”
You don’t want to know anything going into this for the first time, but it plays better every single time I see it…it is without a doubt one of the best movies of all time…
Andy Dufresne: [in letter to Red] “Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”
“Shawshank” is one of cinema’s finest moments…and a great adaptation of Author Stephen King…speaking of which, another King film is here:
Yes, “Pennywise” is back! “IT Part 2” is now out and scaring audiences around the world!
Click here to see my 7 favorite Stephen King adaptations and the trailer for this horror film:
If you enjoy these posts, why not subscribe and never miss out? It’s easy, and there are NO ads of any kind, just stuff I like to share…click on the main page and “follow” me on the upper right…
Thanks so much for reading!
“The Shawshank Redemption” is one of those films that, if you happen upon it while channel surfing, you watch it to the end. Let me know what your favorite scene is!
Categories: Academy Awards, Action Films, Art, Awards, Books / Media, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Great Films, Hollywood, Movies, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities
johnrieber 
Thought you might find this article in Vanity Fair interesting.
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/09/for-the-love-of-shawshank?utm_source=onsite-share&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=onsite-share&utm_brand=vanity-fair
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing this with me! So happy that “Judge Jerry” got out of the gate with good ratings…now we all have to continue to grow grow grow!
LikeLike
This movie can without doubts pass as my best seen movie yet because I don’t ever tire of seeing it every single time.
Rather than a best scene, I would tell you my best quote in the movie.
‘Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies’.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a great quote – thanks for sharing it!
LikeLike
There are three scenes that I absolutely love in this film. The first is when Andy locks himself in the warden’s office and blasts the beautiful music for all the inmates to here. I just absolutely love that part. The second scene that I think is absolute beauty is when the warden opens his wall safe and find his Bible and the note from Andy that says “Salvation did lie within.” I remember screaming in triumph when I saw that scene. The third favorite scene is, of course, when Andy and Red are reunited on that beautiful beach in Mexico. I ugly-cry every single time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with all of those – and for a gut-wrenching moment, how about Andy fighting off the attack in the projection room while Morgan Freeman’s voice tells us that he wishes he could tell us that Andy fought them off….
LikeLiked by 1 person
That scene is why I have such a hard time rewatching this film. It’s so beautiful in so many ways, but my God it tears your heart out and knowing that poor Andy is raped by those horrible men is just horrendous. But it makes the redemption at the end so much sweeter, I agree.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, the most difficult scene by far…
LikeLike
Yep! A great film. Can’t choose a favourite scene, too many to choose just one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely one of the great ones. Interesting bit of related trivia: did you know Brad Pitt was originally cast to play the part of Tommy Williams in The Shawshank Redemption?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t know that…great trivia…I think he may have done a great job, considering how terrific he is in “Snatch”…he could lose himself in a role for sure…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed. But there are some movies where the casting seems impeccable, and the actors achieve that great (and delicate) balance between the characters. It’s hard to predict how a movie would work out with different actors…
Can you imagine Tom Selleck as Indiana Jones? Will Smith as Neo? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a great point…the original choices for classic roles!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A stonking great movie I can watch over again and again. Thanks for this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for commenting…it’s a timeless classic now…the power of cinema….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post in honour of a great film, John. I have seen it time and again, but like ‘The Green Mile’, it never gets stale. Both Stephen King stories of course, so that says a lot about his skill at drawing us in.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for commenting Pete you are absolutely right!
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are so many good scenes! How can I pick just one? The whole movie is a series of great scenes. And you’re right … when I come across the movie, I always stop and watch it. I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen it, or parts of it. Excellent post, really enjoyed it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the comment, and yes, we get hooked every time it’s on…because it has such a great plot, terrific characters and just the most inspiring ending…thanks again for the note!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on By Hook Or By Book and commented:
John pays tribute to one of Stephen King’s best stories and its fantastic film adaptation!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful tribute John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a wonderful post John.
LikeLiked by 1 person