You never doubt that they belong in prison (except, of course, for Andy Dufresne).

You didn't want to get on their bad side. Even the jolliest, funniest, most easy going prisoners in Shawshank had an underlying sense of danger about them. The weaknesses lie in the hundreds of stupid little inaccuracies which culminate into one stupid BIG inaccuracy: This place doesn't feel like a prison! It is difficult to make a prison movie within ten years of 1994 without inviting comparisons to 'The Shawshank Redemption.' Rather than belaboring the obvious, I want to note one detail that is exemplary of the earlier film's superiority. If it had gone this extra mile, it may well have been a better film.

It almost (but never quite) raises the idea of reclaiming integrity, once lost. The fact that this occurs among men who have marred their own self-worth through violent crime makes the concept that much more interesting. The message which deals with the value of pride and the importance of identity and self-worth is certainly admirable. Most especially, James Gandolfini (who had the inside track with the most richly drawn character) excels as the ambiguous villain who is actually right more than half the time. The performances are splendid all around. For my money, the film's weaknesses slightly outweigh its strengths but I can easily see someone else's scales tipping the other way. Most of the raves and pans you will read of this movie are equally true in their own respects.

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