BUKALAN, Carl Laurence G.

BSPSY 184

Movie Review on The Shawshank Redemption

The movie focused on the not-so-common side of humanity. Although the over-all movie
did a great job, I find it lacking, in the sense that it could have been improved more. Albeit
leaning towards a different perspective nonetheless.

Narrative:

The film was interpreted as Christian Mysticism narrated by Morgan Freeman. Freeman
was cast at the suggestion of producer Liz Glotzer, who ignored the novella's character
description of a white Irishman, nicknamed "Red". The film's score was composed by Thomas
Newman. He felt that it already elicited such strong emotions without music that he found it
difficult to compose one that would elevate scenes without distracting from them.
Cinematography:

The shots taken all throughout the movie was horrifyingly good, everything was detailed
although it could have improved, considering the era of the production of the movie, it is almost
the same idea conceptualized during today’s time.

Mise-en-scene:

The arrangements of scenery and the stage properties on the movie was executed well
enough. Everything was thought of nicely, it was overall a good combination of effort, and
creativity.
Editing:

The editing, I think, tried to emphasize the character’s personality and his/her own
personal life. How he/she portrayed it and how it was supposed to be seen as. This helped greatly
on understanding the ideas of screenwriters and producers of the movie. The editing also has
similar perspectives on modern styles helping in the process of viewer-expectancy.

Sound:

The sound was properly executed, the structuralized idea of putting the most nostalgic
kinds of instrumental sounds was heavenly. This helped in the idea of showing the value of a
certain phenomenon during a person’s life. How a simple sound can be directed towards
different people and make them feel something. That right there is art.