Week one of You Haven't Seen... and already it is clear just why I haven't seen most things. It's the day before I am supposed to post this review and I have only just taken the DVD off the shelf. I don't know why but mentally, purposely putting on a film is hard work for me. However, I am ill today, and stuck in bed, so I have NO EXCUSES.
What do I know about the film already?
I know that it is prison based, at least mostly? And some guy escapes in the rain. There is also something to do with a tree.
30 minute pause point:
Soo, Shawshank is the name of the prison.
That's nice to know.
Here are my thoughts thus far:
Apparently a revolver only holds 6 bullets, what even is the point in them? Americans and their guns.
I am 50% sure he totally did his wife in.
I don't think I will ever NOT like a Freeman voiceover, his Through The Wormhole series is one of my favourites, and now I will have to rewatch them.
Freeman's hat is very similar to a hat I once had, except mine was black, and I couldn't pull it off.
Andy is badass and he is going to do something badass.
The sound geek in me has noticed that the foley work is spectacular. Well done sound team.
I would like a small bird to live in my jacket pocket, but I wouldn't call him Jake, I think I would go with Rutherford.
I totally recognise this guy, the bet winner. Where? Where from? Is it True Blood? I hope so otherwise I've just brought up the fact I've watched True Blood for no good reason.
What would I ask Freeman to get me? I was going to say books but they already seem to have a good cart library going on. I think I'd want an ipod but that's going to involve some time travel on Freeman's part, and how would I update the songs? This requires some more thought.
What do Shawshank prison and Boots have in common? They both LOVE surprise inspections.
Okay, now to get back to it, I'm pretty sure Andy is about to get harassed by the ginger guy. See you try to trust gingers, but then things like this happen and they all get a bad name...
That's nice to know.
Here are my thoughts thus far:
Apparently a revolver only holds 6 bullets, what even is the point in them? Americans and their guns.
I am 50% sure he totally did his wife in.
I don't think I will ever NOT like a Freeman voiceover, his Through The Wormhole series is one of my favourites, and now I will have to rewatch them.
Freeman's hat is very similar to a hat I once had, except mine was black, and I couldn't pull it off.
Andy is badass and he is going to do something badass.
The sound geek in me has noticed that the foley work is spectacular. Well done sound team.
I would like a small bird to live in my jacket pocket, but I wouldn't call him Jake, I think I would go with Rutherford.
I totally recognise this guy, the bet winner. Where? Where from? Is it True Blood? I hope so otherwise I've just brought up the fact I've watched True Blood for no good reason.
What would I ask Freeman to get me? I was going to say books but they already seem to have a good cart library going on. I think I'd want an ipod but that's going to involve some time travel on Freeman's part, and how would I update the songs? This requires some more thought.
What do Shawshank prison and Boots have in common? They both LOVE surprise inspections.
Okay, now to get back to it, I'm pretty sure Andy is about to get harassed by the ginger guy. See you try to trust gingers, but then things like this happen and they all get a bad name...
60 minute pause point:
What is Freeman's story? Why does he have such power?
The cop moaning about his taxes does sound like a whiny get but taxes are a bitch. True story.
I admire Andy's willingness to help said cop but I probably wouldn't have lead with the line 'Do you trust your wife?'. It just sounds suspicious.
An important life lesson is to have a skill if you're going to jail.
I will forever refer to beer as a 'bottle of suds' from now on.
I don't think Andy really wants to play chess.
These guys have film nights?! That means that they've probably seen more films than me.
Rita Hayworth is going to be hiding something isn't she.
I wonder how far my sound engineering degree would get me. His banker status has got him out of the laundry and into the library. I could advise the guards on the best way to set up their home studios. I'm sure this is a great prison talent.
I suspect that the head guy is not posting Andy's letters.
Ahhh. Institutionalised. Aren't we all? #deepshit
Must get back, pretty sure Brooks is about to kill himself.
The cop moaning about his taxes does sound like a whiny get but taxes are a bitch. True story.
I admire Andy's willingness to help said cop but I probably wouldn't have lead with the line 'Do you trust your wife?'. It just sounds suspicious.
An important life lesson is to have a skill if you're going to jail.
I will forever refer to beer as a 'bottle of suds' from now on.
I don't think Andy really wants to play chess.
These guys have film nights?! That means that they've probably seen more films than me.
Rita Hayworth is going to be hiding something isn't she.
I wonder how far my sound engineering degree would get me. His banker status has got him out of the laundry and into the library. I could advise the guards on the best way to set up their home studios. I'm sure this is a great prison talent.
I suspect that the head guy is not posting Andy's letters.
Ahhh. Institutionalised. Aren't we all? #deepshit
Must get back, pretty sure Brooks is about to kill himself.
90 minutes:
I would be interested to read a book written by a prisoner released after 60 years.
Brooks is sweet but underneath his adorable musings of killing his manager it's important to remember that he was in prison for murder.
Called it! I don't think I'd know how to tie a good enough knot. Some skills are just lost these days.
Although, the fact that he'd rather kill himself rather than another person does reflect well for his moral rehabilitation.
In Andy's defense, refusing a man music is a violation of human rights.
Andy fricking LOVES music, I could totally help him out, I'd be alright inside after all.
Is Freeman going to kill himself when he finally gets out?
Their library is better than most libraries I've been in.
I would love someone to bring me a box of pie and money. That would be a good day.
If the bankers of 2008 were given jail time rather than a payout could they start a lucrative accountancy career too? They have the same creative banking skills as Andy.
Fresh meat has a leather jacket and sideburns, he's going to be trouble.
Brooks is sweet but underneath his adorable musings of killing his manager it's important to remember that he was in prison for murder.
Called it! I don't think I'd know how to tie a good enough knot. Some skills are just lost these days.
Although, the fact that he'd rather kill himself rather than another person does reflect well for his moral rehabilitation.
In Andy's defense, refusing a man music is a violation of human rights.
Andy fricking LOVES music, I could totally help him out, I'd be alright inside after all.
Is Freeman going to kill himself when he finally gets out?
Their library is better than most libraries I've been in.
I would love someone to bring me a box of pie and money. That would be a good day.
If the bankers of 2008 were given jail time rather than a payout could they start a lucrative accountancy career too? They have the same creative banking skills as Andy.
Fresh meat has a leather jacket and sideburns, he's going to be trouble.
End of film:
I'm starting to wonder if there has ever been a film that didn't feature a bottle or can of coca cola at some point.
2nd life lesson - Rather like in this countryside village, gossip travels fast in prison. Don't be bragging about murders that you aren't in for.
Hey! That means Andy's innocent! Oh, guess this prison things been a super bummer.
I feel this meeting with the warden is a trap. Tommy is about to die?
oh, yup.
Now wondering, has there ever been a person of power in a film that didn't abuse their power?
I would not remember the directions to the oak tree. No way, not for a day, let alone x years.
I'm guessing on his way out Andy is going to drop the warden in it.
There is a lot of double denim in this film. At times, triple! Brave choices.
There's the rain! This must be when he breaks out. So he hacked with his little hammer for 20 years?
I love that photo of einstein.
There's a hole behind the poster right?
Called it! I feel like that hole is bigger than is possible with that hammer and 20 years, but I'll go with it.
It's really fortunate that there was a thunderstorm so that he could bang the pipe in time to it.
3rd called it! It was only right that the warden got it, he killed sideburns.
I still feel like Andy is going to be dead soon, it seems too cheerful a story.
Red's out! It's going to go south.
Red's going to Mexico! Ole! Is that a Mexican thing? It's not is it? Andy is going to be dead when he get there?
Andy is not even dead. Much happier ending then I would have given.
2nd life lesson - Rather like in this countryside village, gossip travels fast in prison. Don't be bragging about murders that you aren't in for.
Hey! That means Andy's innocent! Oh, guess this prison things been a super bummer.
I feel this meeting with the warden is a trap. Tommy is about to die?
oh, yup.
Now wondering, has there ever been a person of power in a film that didn't abuse their power?
I would not remember the directions to the oak tree. No way, not for a day, let alone x years.
I'm guessing on his way out Andy is going to drop the warden in it.
There is a lot of double denim in this film. At times, triple! Brave choices.
There's the rain! This must be when he breaks out. So he hacked with his little hammer for 20 years?
I love that photo of einstein.
There's a hole behind the poster right?
Called it! I feel like that hole is bigger than is possible with that hammer and 20 years, but I'll go with it.
It's really fortunate that there was a thunderstorm so that he could bang the pipe in time to it.
3rd called it! It was only right that the warden got it, he killed sideburns.
I still feel like Andy is going to be dead soon, it seems too cheerful a story.
Red's out! It's going to go south.
Red's going to Mexico! Ole! Is that a Mexican thing? It's not is it? Andy is going to be dead when he get there?
Andy is not even dead. Much happier ending then I would have given.
Would I watch this again?
I would indeed watch this again.
What did I learn from this film?
To me this film was about hope. Andy himself represented the hope in Shawshank, he gave the other prisoners hope with his music, and his library, and his book learning. He gave Red so much hope, that he played a single note on his harmonica, and finally got parole. It's easy to draw parallels between the prison system and the 'real' world. When Brooks and Red are released, they are put into the 'rat race' at the bottom rung, and there was about as much freedom for them as there was on the inside. Andy was the hope of escape for Red, Brooks didn't have this. So regardless of whether the viewer is in jail, or more likely out of jail, the message of 'Get busy living, or get busy dying' comes across loud and clear.
Is the hype justified?
Yes, I think so. The story is well crafted, the cinematography is excellent and even the music doesn't sound dated, extra points in my book.
My YHS rating:
Next week:
