Since I’ve ventured back (once again!) this week into one of my favorite movies The Shawshank Redemption — analysis here and here — I figured why not select something from it for this week’s Great Scene.
But which one? The trial? Suds on the roof? Mozart? Brooks’ suicide? Andy’s escape? So many memorable scenes. And I’ve chosen this one — Red’s final parole board hearing — because it represents perfectly a payoff scene. Twice before, Red sits in the same chair in front of the same type of soulless, dreary people — the first time we meet Red in the movie in 1947, then about midway through the movie in 1957 — and goes through his rote lines:
MAN #l It says here you've served thirty years of a life sentence. MAN #2 You feel you've been rehabilitated? RED Yes sir, without a doubt. I can say I'm a changed man. No danger to society, that's the God's honest truth. Absolutely rehabilitated.
And both times, the scene ends with a big rubber stamp slamming down: “REJECTED.” Now it’s the third time in front of the parole board:
AN IRON-BARRED DOOR 274 slides open with an enormous CLANG. A stark room beyond.CAMERA PUSHES through. SIX MEN AND ONE WOMAN sit at a longtable. An empty chair faces them. We are again in: INT -- SHAWSHANK HEARINGS ROOM -- DAY (1967) Red enters, sits. 20 years older than when we first saw him. MAN #1 Your file says you've served forty years of a life sentence. You feel you've been rehabilitated? Red doesn't answer. Just stares off. Seconds tick by. Theparole board exchanges glances. Somebody clears his throat. MAN #1 Shall I repeat the question? RED I heard you. Rehabilitated. Let's see now. You know, come to think of it, I have no idea what that means. MAN #2 Well, it means you're ready to rejoin society as a-- RED I know what you think it means. Me, I think it's a made-up word, a poli- tician's word. A word so young fellas like you can wear a suit and tie and have a job. What do you really want to know? Am I sorry for what I did? MAN Well...are you? RED Not a day goes by I don't feel regret, and not because I'm in here or because you think I should. I look back on myself the way I was...stupid kid who did that terrible crime...wish I could talk sense to him. Tell him how things are. But I can't. That kid's long gone, this old man is all that's left, and I have to live with that. (beat) Rehabilitated? That's a bullshit word, so you just go on ahead and stamp that form there, sonny, and stop wasting my damn time. Truth is, I don't give a shit. The parole board just stares. Red sits drumming his fingers. CLOSEUP -- PAROLE FORM A big rubber stamp SLAMS down -- and lifts away to reveal theword "APPROVED" in red ink.
Red comes clean, no more spouting off what he thinks the boards wants to hear, but a true confession from his soul. Here’s the movie version of the scene:
What is different about Red this time around? Why does he change his tune with the board? I’ve got some ideas, but I’d like to hear your thoughts about this Great Scene.
By the way, The Shawshank Redemption, written and directed by Frank Darabont from a short story by Stephen King, continues its long reign as the #1-rated movie as voted by IMDB users.
One of best movies ever made. And better than the Stephen King original too
Whenever my computer starts back up it is set to launch iTunes and play Red's "I hope" voiceover from the end of this film. Needless to say, it's a favourite of mine as well.
When I watch this scene now the first thing I notice is the wonderful slow zoom as Red speaks to the board from deep within his soul. Great decision by Darabont and Roger Deakins (DOP) which clearly demonstrates the intimate knowledge and understanding of the character's motivation.
Great too that there's no soundtrack to sell a song or manipulate the emotional content with a minor key. It's just the character. His stone cold eyes and his hopeless words.
At this point it seems apparent that Red has given up the chase and decided that freedom, his trickster, will never be caught. He is now completely without hope of the future and determined to live out the rest of his days within the walls of Shawshank.
Earlier in the movie I think Red actually still has a whiff of freedom and believes that he might get out and experience being a free man once more. It's still an attainable goal to a man who still has a vision of life outside.
When he sits down that last time there's nothing left but the nub of a spirit who once dreamed of tasting freedom.
If it's important to know what a character wants in each scene I think Red just wants to get out of the room because he's sick of the "bullshit". On every other occasion he sat there completely focused on getting out of prison.
I'm looking on IMDB and reading the film's tagline there:
Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
The contrast is great and it's no wonder that a master of story would be able to dig up so many fantastic moments with such a powerful jumping off point.
With that in mind I am considering the possibility that on each previous occasion that Red sat down in front of the board he was truly fearful that he would never get out. He HAD to find the right words and the right posture to convince them to let him be free. The thought of dying in prison was a horrifying prospect and so he lived in hope that one day, if he played his cards right, he would be released.
Sadly, each time that he tried to impress the authorities with what he thought they wanted to hear he was declined. Slowly over the years that flame diminished to a smoking ember – a man without hope or a promise of the future.
Finally, when the man is fearless and could care less, he tells them what he really thinks and how he really feels. Now when the old man has no idea what to do with freedom the trickster turns intent on challenging the man with a whole new set of hurdles and self doubts.
Freeman's performance is inspired. There's nothing in his eyes – they appear black and soulless and he is convincingly a man who has given up.
Thanks for the work you do on this blog. I visit regularly and value greatly the wisdom and lessons to ponder.