I believe that Frank Darabont, the director of "The Shawshank Redemption" was extremely clever in the way he used certain mediums to reinforce the concepts of the film. The tools of his trade that he uses extremely effectively are camerawork, lighting, colour sound, music, imagery and actors.
Some examples of the camera work he chose to use were focus, close ups, medium shots, long shots, high angles, low angles and zoom.
These camera tricks were used discretely to the untrained eye, however helped to give much better impact and depth to the story line. .
Close ups were used in a few scenes, especially those featuring the warden and the screws. I felt that these close-ups gave a greater defined anger and provided a more powerful impact. An example of this was when Andy escaped and he wasn't in his cell, or when the main screw was going to throw Andy off the roof. .
The low and high angles were some camera techniques that I believe made the movie what it was. Filming from above showed the authority as well as vast space. Colouring also came into play with these techniques. Scenes that were filmed from a low angle however, showed fright and cowardice. Some areas where the low angles were used were from the perspective of someone who was in the hole or about to be beaten, for example when Andy was in the hole, or about to be raped by the sisters. Other examples were when fat ass was about to be smashed by the screws, or when the sister was beaten in his cell for putting Andy in the infirmary. The high angles on the other hand were used to show the prison from an aerial view, or to show the perspective of the authority figures, such as the screws and the warden. Long shots were used to film the rows of cells and the zooms were used effectively to show the confusion and fear. An example of an effective zoom was when the warden shot himself.
The sound effects throughout the film left a huge impact.
As films go, The Shawshank Redemption is a striking story of the power of hope. ... He is sent to Shawshank Prison. ... Unfortunately, these same qualities also attract Shawshank's "Sisters." ... (Shawshank) Images may fade, as does the motivation. ... (Shawshank)...
Just as everyone else in Shawshank Prison, Andy (Tim Robbins) was "innocent". ... And all the while, he planned and worked on his impossible escape from Shawshank. ... The Shawshank Redemption is not all about religion and morality. ... Another important, yet less obvious trait that made The Shawshank Redemption such a masterpiece was the music. ... The Shawshank Redemption proves again and again the worth of the human spirit and that "salvation lies within." ...
The Shawshank Redemption is a film about a young tax accountant who is wrongfully accused for murdering his wife and her lover. He was sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind the bars of Maine's Shawshank State Prison. ... Throughout the story, Andy realizes the way and life of Shawshank. ... Each character delivers a strong performance that brings the audience into their world at Shawshank. ... Where freedom is taken away forever, Shawshank is still a place where hope exists for all of its inhabitants. ...
One quality that makes The Shawshank Redemption an outstanding movie involves the fight against despair. ... Another quality that makes The Shawshank Redemption a great film involves the partnership between the characters. ... Another quality that makes The Shawshank Redemption an incredible film involves the performers. ... The Shawshank Redemption shines by virtue for its compelling minor characters. ... The Shawshank Redemption exemplifies an outstanding movie. ...
The Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King is both a wonderful film and a brilliantly written short story. There are many themes represented in each form of The Shawshank Redemption. ... The act of Andy Dufresne being able to go on Sunday expeditions(29) at Shawshank shows the reader and/or viewer that it will make him feel free, like when he collected rocks in his old life (life before prison). ... This event occurred because he made business dealings with the hardest screw that ever walked a turn at the Shawshank State Prison (48). ... Bibliography BOOK "The Shawshank Redemption" Stephan King,...
Contrast was used by Frank Darabont in "The Shawshank Redemption" to convey the main ideas of hope and freedom. ... The introduction of Shawshank prison shows the harsh mental and physical treatment of the prisoners. ... " Finally, Darabont uses contrast between Shawshank prison and imagery of Birds in "The Shawshank Redemption" as a way to explore the idea of hope and freedom. ... And for the briefest of moments, every last man at Shawshank felt free.... In "The Shawshank Redemption", Frank Darabont has contrasted the prison with the library, the rooftop s...
Frank Darabont's film "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994) is a deep meaningful representation of friendship within a prison. ... The setting of "The Shawshank Redemption" is complete with strong symbolism.The Shawshank prison is a dark, deceitful place of confinement where inmates spend their days letting their minds wonder over the little things in their lifetime. ... Andy Dufresne has the determination to escape Shawshank and create a new life for himself outside the prison walls. At the beginning of the film there is a high angle shot panning over the Shawshank prison...
When Andy arrives at Shawshank, we hear the voiceover of Red (Morgan Freeman) who narrates much of the film. ... Red says that Andy ended up costing him his wager, as he never made a sound during his first night in Shawshank. ... Back in Shawshank, Andy's persistence results in an annual state contribution to the Shawshank library as well as being sent hundreds of used books and sundries. ... One day a young man called Billy is sent to Shawshank and Andy and his friends take an immediate liking to him. ... Back in Shawshank, Red is called up for his final parole hearing after serving ...
In Shawshank Redemption directed by Frank Darabont in 1994, is a very moving story about hope, trust and the power of friendship. ... Andy Dufresne came to Shawshank prison in 1947. He was wrongfully convicted of killing his own wife and is sentenced to a long term imprisonment in Shawshank prison. ... In a place like Shawshank, hope is a dangerous thought for many. ... The Shawshank Redemption illustrates the inspirational, unbendable human sprit, because even a wrongful imprisonment, a corrupt warden and enemies within Shawshank could not get the best of Andy Dufresne or any man as long as h...
