MovieChat Forums > The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Discussion > My favorite drama film

My favorite drama film

posted 4 years ago by [deleted]
5 replies | jump to latest

Nuff said.

It's very good but lacks "drama" to be honest. I never really got any feelings of suspense or mystery from it etc...etc... I'm not sure if the narration caused this or what? But I think it would be interesting to see what this film would have been like without the narration. The ability to turn off the narration would have been a great addition to the DVD.

Although, this seems to be the best part of TSR. Without it, its probably not near as good.

I'd still have to go with Amadeus as my favorite drama with American Beauty as a VERY close second.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7429) 4 years ago

Do you dislike other narration films?

[–] stickman38 (3018) 4 years ago

Seems like I do have a tendency to not really care for it. But it worked really well in TSR. One thing I can't stand is when the actor does the narration himself (or herself) by talking directly at the camera. ARRRGGG... hate that.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I get that you are not a big fan of narration. And, of course you are entitled to voice an opinion, whether others agree with it ot not. However, I couldn't help but notice in your post above, you say that without the narration this film would not be near as good, and that it worked really well in this movie.
I agree with what you said. I believe that without Freeman's masterful narration, this film would not have been as good. I also rarely like it when an actor breaks the fourth wall. There have been exceptions, of course. (Deadpool)
Anyways, as far as I am concerned, the narration makes the film. In my eyes, this film is a testament to hope.

[–] rudeboymurray (3241) 4 years ago

It’s beautifully shot and scored with a magnificent performance by Morgan Freeman. It does borrow an awful lot of tropes and characters from earlier (not always better) prison movies and I find Tim Robbins’ character and performance a shade dull, so it’s not a favourite, but it’s an enjoyable film.

On the narration argument, I don’t mind it when it supports or forwards the action, and here it mostly does that, although it is perhaps overused a little.