The Brilliant Film, Shawshank Redemption Essay
A Companion To the Movies
Title and Year: Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Director: Frank Darabont (based on the Stephen King novel)
Actors: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, and William Sadler.
The Shot
Long/medium/close up: Roger Deakins, the film s cinematographer, and director Frank Darabont
worked together to create this wonderful and classical film heavily utilizing long shots, close
ups, and slow zooms. Throughout the film Shawshank Redemption , a series of shots take place
where the camera is set inside a dark space looking out at the characters. For example, the camera
is set inside the entrance of a tunnel built and used by Andy to escape, which views the Warden
and his guards finally discovering how he escaped ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Darabont uses the angle of the camera for symbolic reasons as well, for example, the camera looks
down during the argument between Andy and Hadley. The camera s angle shot in this scene
indicated Andy had both power and effect over others.
Camera Movement: Shawshank redemption features many closeups, long takes, and slow zooms.
The use of slow zooms in on the character is to help affect the audience on an intimate level.
The Story
Characters: The main characters are Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), Ellis Boyd Red Redding
(Morgan Freeman), Warden Norton (Bob Gunton), Heywood (William Sadler), and Captain Hadley
(Clancy Brown).
Plot: The plot of Shawshank Redemption follows the usual plot format including the exposition,
rising action, climax, falling action, and conclusion. Taken place in the 1940s, this film begins with
showing the audience the unfortunate events that led successful banker Andy Dufresne into prison
on life sentence for a double murder. Andy, however, is innocent. For the beginning of Andy s time
in prison, the usual calamity and burdens had occurred. We view Andy s struggle being an innocent
man living with criminals. However, as the audience reaches the climax of the story, we see that
Andy Dufresne has adjusted more comfortably to the prison life since he started helping both
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