The 100 Greatest movies of the 1990s 11. Unforgiven (32 Viewers)

[timschochet]

13. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Directed by: Frank Darabont

Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton

Synopsis: An unjustly charged man spends years in prison before finally escaping.

I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living, or get busy dying. - Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne

The best ever adaptation of a Stephen King story, Moving, suspenseful, well-written, well-acted, uplifting with an immensely satisfying conclusion, and also imbued with a classic feel of old time Hollywood. A whole lot of people have this as their number #1 movie of the decade (and some as their favorite film of all time.) I won’t take issue with any of them; the fact that I have a dozen films which I regard as (very slightly) better doesn’t mean I don’t have high regard for this movie. It deserves all the appreciation it gets.

 

[Zow]

Thought that was a shoe-in for top ten.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Saving Private Ryan is brilliant with an emotional powerhouse finish.
My only complaint is that they filmed every battle scene with the jerky handheld camera which made perfect sense with the chaotic opening scene, but got a little tiresome by the end.

Sounds eerily similar to Shaving Ryan’s Privates.

Another classic albeit a different genre

Right up there with The Witches of Breastwick and The Hills Have Thighs.

 

[titusbramble]

14 - film I have never heard of
13 - film that is my number one of all time

 

[TripItUp]

13. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Directed by: Frank Darabont

Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton

Synopsis: [/B]An unjustly charged man spends years in prison before finally escaping.

We've all seen it numerous times for a reason.

Trip's Official Ruling: Under Ranked(in my top 5)

 

[General Malaise]

IMO, Stand By Me and Shining are better King adaptations but this one is spectacular too.

 

[JAA]

13. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Directed by: Frank Darabont

Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton

Synopsis: An unjustly charged man spends years in prison before finally escaping.

I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living, or get busy dying. - Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne

The best ever adaptation of a Stephen King story, Moving, suspenseful, well-written, well-acted, uplifting with an immensely satisfying conclusion, and also imbued with a classic feel of old time Hollywood. A whole lot of people have this as their number #1 movie of the decade (and some as their favorite film of all time.) I won’t take issue with any of them; the fact that I have a dozen films which I regard as (very slightly) better doesn’t mean I don’t have high regard for this movie. It deserves all the appreciation it gets.

Having this next to Election?

Cmon. This move is legitimately top 5 of all lists. How could this happen?

 

[JAA]

I loved hearing about how Shawshank flopped on release and in the theater IIRC. Then TNT/TBS made it.

 

[JAA]

14 - film I have never heard of
13 - film that is my number one of all time

I need to complain more

Shawshank is one of the best movies of all time in all decades of all genres of everything. And this podunk poll didn’t have it top ten of its decade?

Cmon

 

[JAA]

We need these voters outed. This is worse than WVU being left out of the big dance so the selection committee chair could get his school into the dance and get his bonuses.

Travishamokery

 

[Ilov80s]

We need these voters outed. This is worse than WVU being left out of the big dance so the selection committee chair could get his school into the dance and get his bonuses.

Travishamokery

It’s not really a poll. It’s just Tim’s opinion.

 

[El Floppo]

I'd much rather see Tim's idiosyncratic list than the IMDB best of the 90s or whatever.

Sure I disagree with a lot of films ranking relative to other films. Don't care. Not my list. Not something I ever spend the time thinking about... so I enjoy realizing "oh- I much prefer move A to movie B and would never even think of Movie C as a top 100". And I actually like seeing somebody rate something out of left field above the obvious.

 

[JAA]

We need these voters outed. This is worse than WVU being left out of the big dance so the selection committee chair could get his school into the dance and get his bonuses.

Travishamokery

It’s not really a poll. It’s just Tim’s opinion.

Whatever it is it’s an embarrassment to us all.

 

[AAABatteries]

Thought that was a shoe-in for top ten.

You and the rest of the FFA

 

[Chaz McNulty]

13. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Directed by: Frank Darabont

Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton

Synopsis: An unjustly charged man spends years in prison before finally escaping.

I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living, or get busy dying. - Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne

The best ever adaptation of a Stephen King story, Moving, suspenseful, well-written, well-acted, uplifting with an immensely satisfying conclusion, and also imbued with a classic feel of old time Hollywood. A whole lot of people have this as their number #1 movie of the decade (and some as their favorite film of all time.) I won’t take issue with any of them; the fact that I have a dozen films which I regard as (very slightly) better doesn’t mean I don’t have high regard for this movie. It deserves all the appreciation it gets.

Thanks for not taking issue with the rest of the world.

 

[AAABatteries]

Really enjoying Tim's countdown and I won't pick on him but this is one that I'll say I'm surprised by - It's in my top-5 of all-time movies. Some days I would even consider it as high as #3 (GFI/II is always my top 2). I'm not even a huge Tim Robbins fan but it's basically a perfect movie, IMO.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

It's about 15 minutes to too long.

 

[Gally]

It's about 15 minutes to too long.

and you would know

 

[beer 30]

I'd much rather see Tim's idiosyncratic list than the IMDB best of the 90s or whatever.

Sure I disagree with a lot of films ranking relative to other films. Don't care. Not my list. Not something I ever spend the time thinking about... so I enjoy realizing "oh- I much prefer move A to movie B and would never even think of Movie C as a top 100". And I actually like seeing somebody rate something out of left field above the obvious.

We’re 48 pages in, he’s doing something right

 

[Zow]

14 - film I have never heard of
13 - film that is my number one of all time

Yeah not sure Election is a top 14 movie from 1999 and I think Shawshank is a top 10 movie of all-time.

Again, though, I appreciate Tim putting his opinion out there like this.

 

[General Malaise]

I loved hearing about how Shawshank flopped on release and in the theater IIRC. Then TNT/TBS made it.

Did you see it in the theater?

 

[KarmaPolice]

I'd much rather see Tim's idiosyncratic list than the IMDB best of the 90s or whatever.

Sure I disagree with a lot of films ranking relative to other films. Don't care. Not my list. Not something I ever spend the time thinking about... so I enjoy realizing "oh- I much prefer move A to movie B and would never even think of Movie C as a top 100". And I actually like seeing somebody rate something out of left field above the obvious.

All this. I know it's what we do around here, but there is no movie that is a slam dunk top ___ of anything. I think it's more interesting hearing why a movie might not click with somebody vs. predictably seeing it on yet another top 5. I didn't see a reason why in the thread, but one of the KP/80s pair rated it lower than Tim did for our countdown.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Saving Private Ryan is brilliant with an emotional powerhouse finish.
My only complaint is that they filmed every battle scene with the jerky handheld camera which made perfect sense with the chaotic opening scene, but got a little tiresome by the end.

Sounds eerily similar to Shaving Ryan’s Privates.

Another classic albeit a different genre

Right up there with The Witches of Breastwick and The Hills Have Thighs.

Throbinhood - Prince of Beaves

 

[Dan Lambskin]

13. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Directed by: Frank Darabont

Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton

Synopsis: An unjustly charged man spends years in prison before finally escaping.

I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living, or get busy dying. - Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne

The best ever adaptation of a Stephen King story, Moving, suspenseful, well-written, well-acted, uplifting with an immensely satisfying conclusion, and also imbued with a classic feel of old time Hollywood. A whole lot of people have this as their number #1 movie of the decade (and some as their favorite film of all time.) I won’t take issue with any of them; the fact that I have a dozen films which I regard as (very slightly) better doesn’t mean I don’t have high regard for this movie. It deserves all the appreciation it gets.

OV-ER! RA-TED!

 

[Scoresman]

My only gripe with Shawshank is that outside of Boggs, all of the prisoners were these nice, upstanding dudes who are spending decades in prison. It's hard for me to believe these guys did things to get themselves locked away for so long.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

My only gripe with Shawshank is that outside of Boggs, all of the prisoners were these nice, upstanding dudes who are spending decades in prison. It's hard for me to believe these guys did things to get themselves locked away for so long.

They were all innocent.

 

[KarmaPolice]

It's about 15 minutes to too long.

What would you cut? Or are you being literal that it should have ended 15 minutes earlier?

 

[Andy Dufresne]

It's about 15 minutes to too long.

What would you cut. Or are you being literal that it should have ended 15 minutes earlier?

A lot of the stuff with Tommy. And yeah, I probably would have edited some of the ending, finishing it when Red says, "I hope..." and leave it ambiguous as to whether he made it to Andy.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I loved hearing about how Shawshank flopped on release and in the theater IIRC. Then TNT/TBS made it.

It was hard to market for theatrical release really. Big enough stars but not box office draws and a “slow” dramatic storyline.

It’s probably top 10 of all time for me but didn’t feel the need to see it while at the movies.

 

[Zow]

My only gripe with Shawshank is that outside of Boggs, all of the prisoners were these nice, upstanding dudes who are spending decades in prison. It's hard for me to believe these guys did things to get themselves locked away for so long.

Surprisingly, most people in prison are complex humans with attributes and flaws. They're not mere animals.

 

[Mr. Mojo]

My favorite scene is where Red gets dropped off at Buxton at the end of the film.
That pretty scenery of the cornfields/oak tree in solitude along with Thomas Newman's great score is perfection.

 

[Jayrod]

We are being punked guys. No one actually thinks these are the real rankings. Tim is just doing a bit.

Bravo, sir, bravo.

 

[Ghost Rider]

My only gripe with Shawshank is that outside of Boggs, all of the prisoners were these nice, upstanding dudes who are spending decades in prison. It's hard for me to believe these guys did things to get themselves locked away for so long.

They were all innocent.

Except for Red. Only guilty man in Shawshank.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

Right up there with The Witches of Breastwick and The Hills Have Thighs.

Never would have expected you to be into those kind of movies

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

a little disappointed in Tim though

I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living, or get busy dying. - Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne

he had the chance to make it Tim Robbins as @Andy Dufresne

 

[General Malaise]

Right up there with The Witches of Breastwick and The Hills Have Thighs.

Never would have expected you to be into those kind of movies

That's how they get us to watch them....

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

I'd much rather see Tim's idiosyncratic list than the IMDB best of the 90s or whatever.

Sure I disagree with a lot of films ranking relative to other films. Don't care. Not my list. Not something I ever spend the time thinking about... so I enjoy realizing "oh- I much prefer move A to movie B and would never even think of Movie C as a top 100". And I actually like seeing somebody rate something out of left field above the obvious.

this is a good point and I like it a lot. I think we all don't agree with parts of his lists sometimes but even IMDB, Ranker, RS or whatever list isn't the say all be all and fans and critics are likely far apart on some movies.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Right up there with The Witches of Breastwick and The Hills Have Thighs.

Never would have expected you to be into those kind of movies

That was back when we had Skinemax on the channel guide. Those ones made me laugh.

 

[KarmaPolice]

It's about 15 minutes to too long.

What would you cut. Or are you being literal that it should have ended 15 minutes earlier?

A lot of the stuff with Tommy. And yeah, I probably would have edited some of the ending, finishing it when Red says, "I hope..." and leave it ambiguous as to whether he made it to Andy.

I like that ending a lot.

I get the Tommy stuff too. He felt out of place for me and was mostly there to deliver the evidence of Andy's innocence. I'd like to transport a less evil version of Sam Rockwell in Green Mile. He could play it a bit goofy but not feel so out of place with the rest of the crew.

 

[Cowboysfan8]

Saving Private Ryan is brilliant with an emotional powerhouse finish.
My only complaint is that they filmed every battle scene with the jerky handheld camera which made perfect sense with the chaotic opening scene, but got a little tiresome by the end.

Sounds eerily similar to Shaving Ryan’s Privates.

Another classic albeit a different genre

Right up there with The Witches of Breastwick and The Hills Have Thighs.

Throbinhood - Prince of Beaves

Sorrest Rump

 

[JAA]

I loved hearing about how Shawshank flopped on release and in the theater IIRC. Then TNT/TBS made it.

Did you see it in the theater?

No.

On one of the other movie polls here someone posted the history of it. Something along the lines of when it was released in theatres no one wanted to watch the concept of men raping other men. The movie basically flopped in the theatres.

Then somehow word of mouth just happened and when it made it to TNT TBS everyone watched and watched and watched, and because of that it is what it is now.

 

[JAA]

I'd much rather see Tim's idiosyncratic list than the IMDB best of the 90s or whatever.

Sure I disagree with a lot of films ranking relative to other films. Don't care. Not my list. Not something I ever spend the time thinking about... so I enjoy realizing "oh- I much prefer move A to movie B and would never even think of Movie C as a top 100". And I actually like seeing somebody rate something out of left field above the obvious.

All this. I know it's what we do around here, but there is no movie that is a slam dunk top ___ of anything. I think it's more interesting hearing why a movie might not click with somebody vs. predictably seeing it on yet another top 5. I didn't see a reason why in the thread, but one of the KP/80s pair rated it lower than Tim did for our countdown.

Of course there are people who would save a dog over a human. But that doesn’t make them any less crazy as someone who puts Shawshank Redemption outside of the top ten movies OF ITS OWN DECADE!!!

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I'd much rather see Tim's idiosyncratic list than the IMDB best of the 90s or whatever.

Sure I disagree with a lot of films ranking relative to other films. Don't care. Not my list. Not something I ever spend the time thinking about... so I enjoy realizing "oh- I much prefer move A to movie B and would never even think of Movie C as a top 100". And I actually like seeing somebody rate something out of left field above the obvious.

All this. I know it's what we do around here, but there is no movie that is a slam dunk top ___ of anything. I think it's more interesting hearing why a movie might not click with somebody vs. predictably seeing it on yet another top 5. I didn't see a reason why in the thread, but one of the KP/80s pair rated it lower than Tim did for our countdown.

Of course there are people who would save a dog over a human. But that doesn’t make them any less crazy as someone who puts Shawshank Redemption outside of the top ten movies OF ITS OWN DECADE!!!

When the AV Club movie staff released their top movie list of the 90s (I forget if it was 100, but it was a lot), Shawshank and another widely praised movie weren’t on it at all. The comment section went ballistic.

 

[JAA]

I'd much rather see Tim's idiosyncratic list than the IMDB best of the 90s or whatever.

Sure I disagree with a lot of films ranking relative to other films. Don't care. Not my list. Not something I ever spend the time thinking about... so I enjoy realizing "oh- I much prefer move A to movie B and would never even think of Movie C as a top 100". And I actually like seeing somebody rate something out of left field above the obvious.

All this. I know it's what we do around here, but there is no movie that is a slam dunk top ___ of anything. I think it's more interesting hearing why a movie might not click with somebody vs. predictably seeing it on yet another top 5. I didn't see a reason why in the thread, but one of the KP/80s pair rated it lower than Tim did for our countdown.

Of course there are people who would save a dog over a human. But that doesn’t make them any less crazy as someone who puts Shawshank Redemption outside of the top ten movies OF ITS OWN DECADE!!!

When the AV Club movie staff released their top movie list of the 90s (I forget if it was 100, but it was a lot), Shawshank and another widely praised movie weren’t on it at all. The comment section went ballistic.

They prolly had Ed Wood and Election ranked top 10 … Movies to watch while your neighbor is drowning.

 

[JAA]

I’ve been looking at Tim’s 80s list. Much less provocative than this one.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I'd much rather see Tim's idiosyncratic list than the IMDB best of the 90s or whatever.

Sure I disagree with a lot of films ranking relative to other films. Don't care. Not my list. Not something I ever spend the time thinking about... so I enjoy realizing "oh- I much prefer move A to movie B and would never even think of Movie C as a top 100". And I actually like seeing somebody rate something out of left field above the obvious.

All this. I know it's what we do around here, but there is no movie that is a slam dunk top ___ of anything. I think it's more interesting hearing why a movie might not click with somebody vs. predictably seeing it on yet another top 5. I didn't see a reason why in the thread, but one of the KP/80s pair rated it lower than Tim did for our countdown.

Of course there are people who would save a dog over a human. But that doesn’t make them any less crazy as someone who puts Shawshank Redemption outside of the top ten movies OF ITS OWN DECADE!!!

When the AV Club movie staff released their top movie list of the 90s (I forget if it was 100, but it was a lot), Shawshank and another widely praised movie weren’t on it at all. The comment section went ballistic.

They prolly had Ed Wood and Election ranked top 10 … Movies to watch while your neighbor is drowning.

THIS looks like what Pip is talking about.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Their top 10: Malkovich, Rushmore, Unforgiven, Res. Dogs, Out of Sight, Chungking Express, Dazed, Toy Story 2, Pulp Fiction, Goodfellas.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Their top 10: Malkovich, Rushmore, Unforgiven, Res. Dogs, Out of Sight, Chungking Express, Dazed, Toy Story 2, Pulp Fiction, Goodfellas.

Tim really disrespected Chungking Express.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Their top 10: Malkovich, Rushmore, Unforgiven, Res. Dogs, Out of Sight, Chungking Express, Dazed, Toy Story 2, Pulp Fiction, Goodfellas.

I have no idea what chunking is and out of sight? Really?

Agree the rest are leaps and bounds above Shawshank though, Rushmore maybe the exception there

 

[Don Quixote]

Their top 10: Malkovich, Rushmore, Unforgiven, Res. Dogs, Out of Sight, Chungking Express, Dazed, Toy Story 2, Pulp Fiction, Goodfellas.

Tim really disrespected Chungking Express.

Is it confirmed Chunking not showing up?