Post: #1

Twenty years ago, Shawshank Redemption opened in theaters. The film just broke even at the box office. It's since become a hit on video and in repeats on television. It's definitely well deserved.

http://www.vanityfair.com/vf-hollywood/2...al_fbshare

Post: #2

Incredible film. Very emotional ending.

Post: #3

Great film, indeed one of the best.

Post: #4

Any of you read the original story (Stephen King)? One of my favorites of all time.

People are notorious for murdering his stories on the big screen, but they did a great job with this one.

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Rudyard Kipling

Post: #5

Wow I've read 3 books by SK and I had no idea the original story was from Stephen King?!

You learn something new everyday.

Post: #6

^ Some of King's best work was non-horror stuff (he still always includes some details that make the skin crawl). This was a long short story of his.

He also wrote the story that "Stand By Me," a coming-of-age movie that many of us saw growing up, was based on; I believe the original name of the story was "The Body."

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Rudyard Kipling

Post: #7

Great film, can't even count how many times I have seen it. Everytime it comes on tnt or tbs or something on a saturdya or sunday afternoon I gotta stop and watch it.

Post: #8

Post: #9

I remember King saying he hates most of his movie adapations. But....Shawshank and Creepshow are part of the handful he likes.

Post: #10

(09-23-2014 03:28 PM)DJ-Matt Wrote:  

haha I thought of that too.

I was a little annoyed that Morgan Freeman was cast, given that the character in the book was an Irish guy. Seemed a bit too much like a "diversification" move for my tastes.

But of course he nailed the role, as he always does. One of my favorite actors (even though he always plays the same character).

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Rudyard Kipling

Post: #11

(09-24-2014 02:29 AM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  But of course he nailed the role, as he always does. One of my favorite actors (even though he always plays the same character).

What do you mean by this? Do you mean that the roles he plays all share a very similar of not exact personality that probably matches his own?

Post: #12

^ Yes. He essentially always acts like himself in his movies. Must be a tough job. haha

The best actors can completely seem like a different person for each movie. Daniel Day Lewis and Christian Bale are great examples, which doesn't surprise me given their Irish roots (Irish people are very cerebral, in my experience, and take their craft very seriously). Another great example, at least in the early stages of his career, is Edward Norton. Two great instances where he revealed this talent were his character flip in "Primal Fear" and his role in "American History X."

Or how about Leonardo Dicaprio in "What's Eating Giblert Grape?" Fuck, for years I thought they actually used a retarded kid in that movie.

An example of an actor whose talent suffers from always playing a cookie-cutter character is Mark Whalberg, though it certainly hasn't hurt his career, so who am I to judge? Then you ocassionally get a guy who has the same personality, composure, and role in all his films that not only ends up a mega-star but isn't annoying.

That's Morgan Freeman.

I do get the sense with Freeman, though, that it isn't because of a lack of acting talent but because audiences are so drawn to his personality. At this point in his career, it would be hard to swallow if he acted any different.

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Rudyard Kipling

Post: #13

Morgan Freeman will always be Easy Reader:

Post: #14

Here's an interesting fact, when The Shawshank Redemption was released in October of 1994, the following movies were also playing in theaters: Pulp Fiction, Forrest Gump and The Lion King. Man, I miss the 90s!

Post: #15

(09-23-2014 11:50 AM)FretDancer Wrote:  Wow I've read 3 books by SK and I had no idea the original story was from Stephen King?!

You learn something new everyday.

I probably should have also mentioned that the name of the short story is "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption." It was in the "Different Seasons" collection.

King is a master of short fiction and novellas. If you've only read his novels, I highly recommend you pick a few of his short story books up and dig in.

They're an emotional rollercoaster ride.

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Rudyard Kipling