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The Shawshank Redemption

It's a skillful - and manipulative - piece of storytelling, in the american tradition. But it says nothing about America. It seems to be set in a parallel world where none of America's social problems exist, a world inhabited by warmhearted folk or emptyhearted villains. It has about as much to do with mid-twentieth century us society as star trek.
 
Not sure it's cynical. No more so than ET, say, which sits in the same kind of tradition. The manipulation works too, as it does in ET. I think it would take a hard heart not to be moved by ET, but perhaps a simple heart to still be thinking about it a couple of days later. That's where this kind of filmmaking shows its limits for me - it doesn't linger in the mind.
 
I can understand why people like it. It's escapism. It's almost an archetype of the kind of thing popular books about screenwriting try to teach.
 
littlebabyjesus said:
It's a skillful - and manipulative - piece of storytelling, in the american tradition. But it says nothing about America.
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Is it essential for it to do so?

Also I think the Star Trek comparison is a bit off- the 60s incarnation of the show was often about shining a light on contemporary America through allegories that seem embarassingly blatant now (and might have done then too).
 
Well to an extent I would say that it dodges certain issues, such as race, because they would have got in the way. Not essential for it to address the society it's set in, no, but that it doesn't leaves it with no bones underneath the story, imo.

People sometimes say this is their favourite film. For me that's a bit like saying that phil Collins is your favourite singer.
 
The reason why it's one of the most overrated films ever is because it was one of a very few successful weepies aimed at straight men and it makes them feel like they have a sensitive side. If something is acclaimed by white, straight men it suddenly gets taken seriously, while the many women's films and melodramas which have been doing the same for nearly a century keep getting belittled by the same demographic.

Straight boys, have a good cry at the film but don't fool yourself that this is profound or truthful or in any way authentic about it's period, place or circumstances or that it is a good film. It's no better than the equally ridiculous Bette Middler melodrama Beaches, beloved by just as many women and gay men as Shawshank is beloved by straight men. It's just that women and gay men don't think that a film should be considered profound just because it makes them a little weepy.
 
littlebabyjesus said:
That is what it is, a melodrama. Something you enjoy when you're stuck at home with the flu and find it on as the afternoon matinée on bbc2.
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...and it's completely fine to enjoy it on just that level. What makes me a little sad is when people try and elevate it to the status of a classic because its cheap manipulations made then feel something. According to Imdb it's the greatest film ever made, which I find really quite depressing.
 
gsv said:
Got one friend who can't stand it. She points out that it's basically a chick-flick-for-blokes, and there's not a single female character in it (barely a female speaking part).

Loves it me :)


GS(v)
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much like bemoaning the abscence of a male action hero in a story set in a convent
 
Reno said:
The reason why it's one of the most overrated films ever is because it was one of a very few successful weepies aimed at straight men and it makes them feel like they have a sensitive side. If something is acclaimed by white, straight men it suddenly gets taken seriously, while the many women's films and melodramas which have been doing the same for nearly a century keep getting belittled by the same demographic.

Straight boys, have a good cry at the film but don't fool yourself that this is profound or truthful or in any way authentic about it's period, place or circumstances or that it is a good film. It's no better than the equally ridiculous Bette Middler melodrama Beaches, beloved by just as many women and gay men as Shawshank is beloved by straight men. It's just that women and gay men don't demand that a film should be considered a classic just because it makes them a little weepy.
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oh for fucks sake . The Shawshank redemption is not oppressing gays or blacks or wimmin . Seriously like ,its not . And it is a good film . Not the best one ever made or anything like that just an above average offering.
 
i don't think anyone is claiming that the film oppresses anyone. what a strange thing to say.
some people just think it's overhyped and/or a bit crap.
 
"get busy living, or get busy dying. "

People actually talk like that.

However, ignoring the many idiosyncrasies and innacuracies that appeal to a mass American market, the plot does keep your interest the first time around.
 
Casually Red said:
oh for fucks sake . The Shawshank redemption is not oppressing gays or blacks or wimmin . Seriously like ,its not . And it is a good film . Not the best one ever made or anything like that just an above average offering.
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Where did I say that the film is opressing anybody ? :confused:
 
Its a fantastic revolutionary film.

Exposing the injustice of the American penal system and the hypocrisy of the Christian Right.
 
I don't know why people are getting excited about their being no women in the film, there were no women in Das Boot also, historically accurate that was, there were no women in German U Boats in WW2.
 
weltweit said:
I don't know why people are getting excited about their being no women in the film, there were no women in Das Boot also, historically accurate that was, there were no women in German U Boats in WW2.
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I don't think anybody did. Someone mentioned a friend who seemed to have a problem with that. It would be a stupid reason for dislinking the film. There are some films that have no male characters, like The Women, The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant, and Maidens in Uniform.
 
littlebabyjesus said:
It's a skillful - and manipulative - piece of storytelling, in the american tradition. But it says nothing about America. It seems to be set in a parallel world where none of America's social problems exist, a world inhabited by warmhearted folk or emptyhearted villains. It has about as much to do with mid-twentieth century us society as star trek.
Click to expand...

Star Trek tells a lot about mid-twentieth century America.
 
I love Shawshank - yes, it does tug at the heart strings, but it's beautifully filmed, doesn't have a duff performance in it, and it always makes me smile. And a lot less American than it could have been - at least an ageing Steven Segal doesn't blast his way out with a Uzi cunningly concealed in a contraband hamburger.
 
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