A Pigment of My Imagination

“Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.”

Great tag line for a great film. It was interesting reading about the history of this movie, apparently it didn’t receive too much attention in its original theatrical run, get 7 Oscar nominations, but it wasn’t till years later thanks to TV viewings and video sales that it developed a cult audience, and has since gone on to become a modern-day classic.

I apparently missed out on most of this history, and only saw the movie for a first time maybe about 4 or 5 years ago. I really enjoyed it. But unfortunately, in the years since then, had forgotten many details.  Thus when making online wishlists, I saw this one, in a brand-spanking new DVD 2-Disc 10th Anniversary Special Edition, and knew this was the real deal: several excellent new documentaries, interviews, commentary, a spoof, new digital remastered transfer, and gorgeous new cover artwork by the very god of film poster art (Drew Struzan himself!)! I knew I had to get it for myself… well, even better–it was bought for me!

So last night, I sat down with my family to watch this film for my second time, and boy oh boy! Frank Darabont, thanks for your gift to the world! Seriously, I don’t even know how to begin to describe this film, such a monumental achievement, a timeless work of art, a very intelligent and honest film, dark yet hopeful, intimate yet epic.

A nearly perfect cast. Apparently, in Stephen King’s original short story the character of Red is Irish, and yet Darabont wanted Morgan Freeman (this is cleverly joked at in the film). Freeman wanted to work with Tim Robbins and voila! — a match made in heaven! These two actors are spot on, the entire film, they give such virbrant and honest performances, yet very humble and restrained. Everyone else in the film though is terrific as well, every minor character is fully fleshed out and well acted. The world of the film feels extremely realistic and grounded. These are real people, with real lives, emotions, fears and dreams.

Roger Deakins work is always stunning. Although in this film, most of the film isn’t meant to stun, or to be beautiful. A lot of the film is shot relatively simply, grays and blues dominate the cold world of the prison. It on purposely establishes a sort of visual monotony, just like the prisoner’s lives. And yet, what that monotony is broken, it is all that more beautiful because of the hard-earned contrast. The terrific helicopter shot, the aerial views as Mozart plays through the speakers, the occasional views of “outside”, and then finally, Andy’s escape is literally a breath of fresh air, and he runs under the rain–free! The scenes once Red is free, out in the fields, by the large tree, and later on the Zihuatanejo beach are simply stunning. In another movie, those kind of shots, while pretty, might just be cliche, but in this movie, they are absolutely earned, and they are even more dramatic because of it. You really feel the strong breeze of freedom and just what it means for these characters who have lived in hell for so long.

Indeed, this film does not shy way from showing hell. The film is full of violence, swearing, murder, rape, beatings, despair, suicide, etc. The story is not one for the weak, and you need a strong stomach to swallow it, yet it does not sensationalize any of it, or attempt to use it just as typical Hollywood emotional attention-getters. This movie shows life and truth, the brutal honest truth, of what life was like for these men. Yet through it all, and this is probably what makes the film so moving, the darkness is never all-consuming. For such a torturous setting, this film is filled hope! And this hope is ever-present. It is a light always peeking out from the darkness. The film shows the very delicate balance that hope and despair play in real life, they can come and go in a blink of an eye. It shows how these men survive even the bleakest of circumstances and yet manage to find humor and joy and frienship in the world they are forced to live in. The film is a true testament to the human spirit to survive and to rise above its circumstances. The film wrestles with the unfairness of life: the innocent are blamed, people are lied to, cheated, and betrayed, etc. Yet despite this, the film ends on a positive note–friendship can overcome the power of the world to bring us down! The film is a testament of Red and Andy’s courage, friendship, honor, and search for truth, and is a great example for my own life. As Red says, “get busy living, or get busy dying”.

Wow, ok, so so much more to say, I feel very giddy and excited and feel I could write for hours about this film. Hats off to Mr. Frank Darabont, such a stupendous effort, and especially for a debut film!! I also love “The Green Mile”. It’s amazing that this man has not made more movies, yet I guess this helps him to come up with masterpieces when he does. I want to see “The Mist” another effort with Stephen King, although I’ve heard mixed reviews about it. Also, he is listed as writing/directing “Fahrenheit 451″ which is one of my favorite books, so I am very eagerly awaiting news on that!!

In the meantime, live life to the fullest, and never give up hope!