The Shawshank Redemption: 10th Anniversary Special Edition

Initially released in 1994 to mixed reviews, this lengthy but engrossing adaptation of a Stephen King novella would go on to earn seven Academy Award nominations and become a popular item on home video, which accounts for its most recent incarnation in this double-disc "special edition." Opening in 1947, when bank vice president Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is convicted on circumstantial evidence for the murder of his wife and her lover, and sentenced to life imprisonment in Shawshank Prison, the film charts Dufresne's quiet but tenacious endurance, which wins him the respect of both hardened prisoners--like “Red” (Morgan Freeman)--and the duplicitous warden (Bob Gunton), who puts the new fish to work on his personal financial matters. The Shawshank Redemption's length--nearly two-and-a-half hours--makes the film tough going for some viewers, but the format actually plays into director Frank Darabont's hands since audiences experience (briefly) the same tedium, punctuated by bursts of brutality and horror, that wears down prisoners sentenced to long terms. Made with painstaking exactitude, stylish direction, and memorable performances, this is a rewarding picture that's guaranteed to linger in one's memory. DVD extras include a director's commentary, two in-depth cast/filmmaker documentaries, the documentaries/featurettes “Hope Springs Eternal: A Look at The Shawshank Redemption” and “Shawshank: The Redeeming Feature,” The Charlie Rose Show 2004 10th Anniversary re-release interview (with Darabont, Robbins, and Freeman), The Sharktank Redemption (Natalie and Doug Van Doren's 25-minute film festival-winning comic spoof, starring Alfonso Freeman, Morgan's son), a stills gallery, storyboards, and more. Highly recommended. (E. Hulse)[Blu-ray Review—Jan. 6, 2009—Warner, 142 min., R, $34.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1994's The Shawshank Redemption features a stunning transfer and a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack. Blu-ray extras are identical to the previous DVD release, including audio commentary by writer/director Frank Darabont, “The Redeeming Feature” making-of featurette (48 min.), a segment from The Charlie Rose Show featuring Darabont and costars Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, “Hope Springs Eternal: A Look Back” half-hour retrospective featurette, the 25-minute spoof “The Sharktank Redemption,” stills galleries, and trailers. Bottom line: an excellent addition to any budding Blu-ray collection.]