When I first saw the theme, I had no clue. 1980's movies sprang to mind but which movies were made in the 90's? After doing some Googling, I realised there were a few good ones in the mix, but I picked The Shawshank Redemption as my favourite. Sam loves it too and we've watched it countless times. We never tire of it.
It's a 1994 American film written and directed by Frank Darabont and starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman - perfect casting! It was actually adapted from a Stephen King novella called "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption".
I was surprised to read that it didn't do well at the box office and whilst nominated for 7 Academy Awards in 1995, it didn't win any. I think that's a real shame because it really is a beautifully written and acted movie - its popularity since that time attests to that.
So why does it resonate? For me, it's just a beautiful statement about how the mind and spirit cannot be constrained by physical barriers. The prison the men are in does everything it can to destroy the very being of its inmates - but Andy and Red demonstrate that the true soul of a person can't always be imprisoned.
Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies.
I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright and when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up does rejoice, but still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they're gone. I guess I just miss my friend. (Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding)
Does The Shawshank Redemption make your favourite 90's movie list?
What was your favourite movie from that decade?
I love this movie too! Thanks for playing! We must do a 1980s one - so many fantastic movies
ReplyDeleteI'd be hard pressed to just pick one from the 80s!
DeleteI absolutely love The shawshank redemption. I could never tire of that movie. Shawshank and the green mile have to be two of the best movies ever made!
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I think The Green Mile was directed by Frank Darabont too...guess he's your favourite director :)
DeleteIt is a brilliant movie that I loved the first few times I saw it, but countless repeats on TV have worn the shine off it a bit for me.
ReplyDeleteI haven't tired of it yet. Just a great movie. Great acting. Great dialogue.
DeleteNow you've got me..I "think" the 1990s also had You've Got Mail? I liked any of the Meg Ryan movies...and I did like Shawshank. Green Mile was better for me as a book because I am a scaredy cat. I also loved Pretty Woman..or is that too early? My memory ...sorry!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if You've Got Mail was a 90s one but I think Pretty Woman was 80s...although I could be wrong. Memory is now confused. I'm going to go and Google :)
DeleteYou were right on the money with both! You've Got Mail was 1998 and Pretty Woman just sneaked in being a 1990 movie! Would have to add Pretty Woman to my list of favourites! Obviously very different to Shawshank but at the time, it was just THE feel-good movie that everyone loved. Surprisingly, I read an interview with Richard Gere and he said he hates the film! Thinks it was a dumb movie and he hates being associated with it. Hate to tell him, but if it wasn't for that movie his career might have died long ago!!
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