THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
HOW DOES a movie that came and went in theaters without much of a splash go on to become the highest-rated film on all of IMDB? With some major Oscar nominations but no wins (1994 was Forrest Gump’s year, with a side of Pulp Fiction), The Shawshank Redemption instead built its vast, loyal fanbase over time, discovered largely via TV and home video viewings. Adapted from the Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, the story follows stoic banker Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), who is wrongly convicted of murder with no hope of parole, as he navigates a strange and difficult new world behind bars. HIS triumph over seemingly insurmountable adversity, captured with a humanity and impact here that no other movie has ever been able to match, is a timeless inspiration.
Shot on film, Shawshank is another masterpiece from director of photography Roger Deakins. The clean 1.85:1 image boasts crisp focus with significant grain structure retained. The hard lines of the penitentiary bricks are razor-sharp, as are the narrow stripes on the inmates’ shirts. Colors are appropriate for the oppressive environment yet look refreshed in this new 4K/HDR10 transfer and shadows are as inky and rich as we could hope for.
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack appears to be an improvement over the Dolby Truehd 5.1 one on the previous regular HD Blu-ray (that older 1080p platter is the second disc in this package), with an agreeable bump up in both low end impact and overall volume level.
Surround effects convey plenty of footsteps from the shuffling convicts, chanting and clapping, and the jarring wail of the claxon on the concourse.
Fans will remember that a major plot point is revealed with a memorable audio cue, and most of Act III is propelled by Thomas Newman’s emotive score, which has never sounded better than it does here. The only drawback I noted was some mild, occasional distortion in raised voices.
The one and only bonus on the 4K disc is an archival audio commentary from director/screenwriter Frank Darabont, and every aficionado of this film should give it a listen. That repacked Disc 2 also carries a mixed bag of extras past, including a few notto-be-missed featurettes. A Movies Anywhere 4K digital copy code is supplied.