The Shawshank Redemption: 30th anniversary review

By Michael Salveta

It has been 30 years since the theatrical release of The Shawshank Redemption, and it has made quite the impact in that time.

The film was based on a forgotten 1982 Stephen King novel Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. Both the novel and the film tell the story of Andy Dufresne, a successful banker who is found guilty of his wife’s murder and sent to the Shawshank State Penitentiary. We see his time spent inside the harsh and brutal prison walls and his run-ins with the cold Warden Norton. However, it’s not all dark and gloomy, we also see Andy’s growing friendship with fellow prisoner Red.

The film is currently the highest-rated movie on IMDb and, though nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, has become known as one of the greatest movies that never won an Oscar.

The powerful themes of hope, faith, survival and friendship are really what makes this story so impactful. Throughout the film, we see the horrors that take place inside the prison, from the disgustingly dark hallways and cells to the abusive guards. But this darkness frames the film’s lighter heart, with the growth of Andy and Red’s relationship, as well as the strength of the bonds in Red’s gang.

Tim Robbins’ performance as Andy is excellent, a quiet man who keeps to himself, with a kind and calm demeanour which doesn’t fit in with the harshness of the rest of the prison. The character’s childlike optimism shines as he dreams that he will be free again.

Morgan Freeman delivers classic narration as Red, telling the events of the film mostly through his perspective. Freeman manages to make Red feel alive and somewhat happy. Even though he has the desire to be free like Andy, Red has ultimately given up believing that he will ever leave prison.

Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins in The Shawshank redemption Credit: gettyimages

Warden Norton, played by Bob Gunton, and Captain Hadley, played by Clancy Brown, both give underappreciated roles as antagonistic characters. Norton believes himself to be a “man of God”, providing him with the rules and morals to believe he is doing right, whereas Captain Hadley is a bully who abuses others.

Frank Darabont's direction and screenplay is exceptional, every character feels lived in and believable. The dialogue is well written, with the characters talking naturally, without being overly dramatic. You could believe that this is how these characters would talk if they were real.

This film has some of the greatest quotes in cinema history, such as “Get busy living or get busy dying” and “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good things ever die.” The pacing and the structure of the film is well orchestrated as the that it never feels long as it builds and builds to a satisfying third act.

The soundtrack by Thomas Newman is subtle, with both its ominous and chilling tunes and light and hopeful melodies. With legendary cinematography Roger Deakins, both Newman and Darabont make the Shawshank prison a looming and foreboding presence that feels more like a character than a location, with the introduction scene to Shawshank showing the scale and aura of the prison.

I believe this film will continue to inspire many for years to come as a timeless masterpiece that is so easy for us to relate to and understand.