Shawshank Redemption

IMDBs’ users rate it as the greatest film of all time and it is hard to argue, The Shawshank Redemption, simply astonishing.  At the film club the other day wasn’t my first time watching it, but is was still as amazing as ever. Everything in this film is perfect, all the big ideas and themes it represents even to the little nuances of its presentation, so the only problem is, where to start?

Firstly, the acting, and on all counts it was perfect. Tim Robbins is the lead and he can’t be faulted, the change he is able to show in his being over the years he was at the prison was pretty amazing, and gave the film the necessary realism for such a drama. But as good as Robbins was, this was Morgan Freeman’s movie, his silky smooth voice can’t be topped. This aside, he still was impeccable as Red, he needed to show many complex emotions all the time about the situations Andy got himself in, and he was able to do it. Also, at some parts in the movie he needed to show how he occasionally acted immorally but needed to do this with heart and humanity in his eyes so the audience wouldn’t hate him for it, and he pulls this off too. The small supporting roles had great actors too, and this just elevated the entire film. People such as the warden, Captain Hadley, Heywood and especially Brooks were all performed to a tee.

The film doesn’t just have great acting however, the story itself and the rollercoaster of emotions that it ensues is very good, so Stephen King deserves credit. But this story wouldn’t have been much if it had been in the hands of a less capable director, but thankfully for this film we had Frank Darabont. The main factor that affected whether this film would work or not is its tone, which needed to be able to show the highs and the lows without them seeming out of place, and once again The Shawshank Redemption delivers. With all of the sad moments you feel the sadness, and for the brighter moments you do feel them, but they come with a sense of the harsh reality bearing over them, which is perfect for a film set in a prison. All of this means that you take an emotional ride with the characters and feel what they feel, and because you are so close to them when the truly heart-warming ending happens, you feel that a lot too. Man tears will be flowing guaranteed.

The Shawshank Redemption, simply a film that cannot be faulted. If you haven’t watched it yet, why? Go do so right now.

Toby's Review of Awakenings

After watching Awakenings I was close to tears I’ve got to admit.  The ending was so tragic but bittersweet it nearly moved me to tears. Honestly I’ve never felt such an urge to let go a release all my man tears since I watched The Shawshank Redemption.

The tone of this film was perfect for me, the director, Penny Marshall, excellently showed the ranges of emotions the people in this story would feel. When Leonard came out his comatose state the happiness of the situation was overwhelming and the same can be send for his slow decline back into being comatose. This level of happiness before the tragedy makes the tragedy seem so much worse, and affects the audience so much more.

A film of such powerful emotions need incredible actors to pull it off and this film had two of them. Robert De Niro was absolutely amazing in this film and an example of the dedication he shows to his craft. Not only was he believable as a man in that condition he also told such a story with his eyes towards the end of the film he hardly needed to say anything. His scene stealing performance was incredible but it should not over shadow Robin Williams. He bore the emotional weight of this film as his character was the audiences’ eyes, and he carried this weight perfectly.

Whilst I loved this film it is definitely an acquired taste. The sad tear jerking ending is not for all as some would rather a happy ending, and that’s okay just know they shouldn’t be watching this film. Also, the film has a slow deliberate pace in telling the story and some people may not like this but I did. I thought this extra time taken gave the story more of an emotional depth that a faster pace would not allow.

All in this is a great film I definitely want to watch again, preferably at home, by myself, in the dark with a tub of ice cream so I can properly let the man tears flow.

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat

This book represents the stories of his patients who have neurological disorder. Sacks packed the case study of his patients with a fascinating and appealing language. The book is quite short and easy to read, and represents the feelings and emotions both of his patients and Sacks himself. Even though the topics are neurology and psychology, but it can be considered for readers who don’t have neurology and psychology background. It helps general readers, since it includes short postscripts which consist of the explanations of the study and specific terms in neurology. Sacks also uses the everyday language to engage general readers. Therefore this book not only can help the neurologists, psychologists, and other medical practitioners, but also general readers to enrich their understanding of wide range neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions.

Awakenings

The first film that we watched was Awakenings.

Based on a true story as related by neurologist Oliver Sacks, Awakenings stars Robin Williams as the Sacks counterpart, here named Dr. Malcolm Sayer. Something of a klutz and naif, Dr. Sayer takes a job at a Bronx psychiatric hospital in 1969. Here he's put in charge of several seemingly catatonic patients who, under Sayer's painstaking guidance, begin responding to certain stimulati. Apprised of the efficacy of a new drug called L-DOPA in treating degenerative-disease victims, Sayer is given permission to test the drug on one of his patients: Leonard Lowe (Robert De Niro), who has not communicated with anyone since lapsing into catatonia as a child. Gradually, Lowe comes out of his shell, encouraging Sayers to administer L-DOPA to the other patients under his care.

I personally enjoyed this film, I connected with the charecters which is probably one of the most importan parts of a good film.  I would strongly recommend this film to anyone, just don's forget tissues.