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Movies / On DVD / The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption

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The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

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Reviews Counted:56

Fresh:49

Rotten:7

Average Rating:8/10

Rated: 15

Runtime: 2 hrs 25 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:17-09-2004

Synopsis: In writer-director Frank Darabont's THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison for the murders of his wife and her lover in the late... In writer-director Frank Darabont's THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison for the murders of his wife and her lover in the late 1940s. However, only Andy knows that he didn't commit the crimes. Sent to Shawshank Prison to do hard time, Andy--a taciturn banker in the outside world--has to learn to get by in the brutal, cutthroat confines of prison life. His quiet strength slowly earns the respect of his fellow inmates--most notably, Red (Morgan Freeman)--and even much of the prison staff. But Andy's seemingly stoic acceptance of his unjust imprisonment hides a fierce determination for freedom. This beautifully crafted movie features touching and sincere performances from the entire cast, with an uplifting message about humanity's indomitable spirit and the redemptive value of hope. Based on the novella RITA HAYWORTH AND SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION by Stephen King, Darabont's intriguing adaptation is easily one of the finest films of the 1990s. [More]

Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Clancy Brown, Bob Gunton

Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Clancy Brown, Bob Gunton, William Sadler, James Whitmore, Gil Bellows, Mark Rolston

Director: Frank Darabont

Director: Frank Darabont
Screenwriter: Frank Darabont
Story: Stephen King
Producer: Niki Marvin
Composer: Thomas Newman, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

[See More Credits]

Reviews for The Shawshank Redemption

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
tomato

Derek Adams

...a throwback to the kind of serious, literate drama Hollywood used to make.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 24 2006 04:06 AM

Time Out

tomato
5/5

Nev Pierce

Freeman, in particular, is exceptional. His performance is so unshowy it can easily go unnoticed, but it's the soul of Shawshank.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 14 2004 10:17 PM

BBC

splat
2/4

Rob Humanick

Rarely rises above the overbearing, obnoxious and trite.

Full Review Source: | comment 1 Comment | Jun., 20 2009 11:59 AM

Projection Booth

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Louise Keller

I love this film. It's a story about hope and dreams and one whose emotional impact is as great as the Pacific Ocean is blue.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 27 2009 08:42 PM

Urban Cinefile

tomato
5/5

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 20 2008 03:16 AM

Hollywood.com

tomato
8/10

John J. Puccio

...itself a testament to overcoming odds. It is sentimental and stereotyped, yet we are able not only to suspend our disbelief but to root for it all the way.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 19 2008 10:39 AM

DVDTown.com

tomato
4/4

David Nusair

...has certainly earned its reputation as one of the most effective prison movies in cinematic history...

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 30 2008 10:36 AM

Reel Film Reviews

tomato
4/5

Rob Gonsalves

It's an old-school melodrama at heart, sturdy and forthright and upstanding, but without a whisper of complexity or wit.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 23 2007 06:56 PM

eFilmCritic.com

tomato

Leonard Klady

A testament to the human spirit...

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 28 2007 03:12 PM

Variety

tomato
4/4

A 'life-affirming' tale about life imprisonment, The Shawshank Redemption is the kind of old-fashioned entertainment that is easily overvalued in an era of diminishing expectations.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 28 2007 03:11 PM

TV Guide's Movie Guide

tomato

Jonathan Rosenbaum

A passing reference to 'The Count of Monte Cristo' offers a partial clue to what makes this movie compelling.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 28 2007 03:08 PM

Chicago Reader

tomato
B+

Emanuel Levy

I have not read Stephen King's novella (his first non-horror), but some of the movie's deficiencies, such as the old-fashioned morality tale and portentous messge about camarderie and redemption--must have been in the source material.

Full Review Source: | comment 1 Comment | Jan., 13 2007 08:46 PM

EmanuelLevy.Com

tomato
10/10

JoBlo

An amazing movie. Easily one of the best movies made during the 90s and definitely one of the top 'prison' movies of all-time. Pretty much everything about this movie works and works extremely well!

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 24 2006 04:06 AM

JoBlo's Movie Emporium

tomato
4/4

Phil Villarreal

An unhurried, engulfing prison drama.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 10 2006 04:53 AM

Arizona Daily Star

splat

Jake Euker

Why are these men in jail?

Full Review Source: | comment 37 Comments | Feb., 09 2006 02:31 PM

F5 (Wichita, KS)

tomato
4/4

Chuck O'Leary

The Shawshank Redemption works not only as an excellent prison drama, but as a metaphor for overcoming our own private prisons.

comment Comment | Jan., 25 2006 11:55 AM

Fantastica Daily

splat
2/4

Walter Chaw

Drawn in straight, brutal lines.

Full Review Source: | comment 8 Comments | Dec., 17 2004 12:33 PM

Film Freak Central

tomato
4/5

James Brundage

The Shawshank Redemption is one of those films that is a true work of both art and magic.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 31 2004 10:16 PM

Filmcritic.com

splat
1.5/4

Ed Gonzalez

Beaches for straight men.

Full Review Source: | comment 25 Comments | Oct., 16 2004 08:50 AM

Slant Magazine

tomato
3.5/4

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 27 2004 10:16 PM

Combustible Celluloid

 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for The Shawshank Redemption

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We the people of Rotten Tomatoes, in order to make this Independence Day more perfect, do ordain and establish this Total Recall as a cinematic tribute to the Bill of Rights. More...

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Frank Darabont is heading back to prison for a crime thriller that is selling international rights in Cannes this week. More...

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