Wednesday, April 09, 2008

RITA HAYFIELD & THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION WALK 16 BLOCKS

One of the greatest movies I've ever seen is the Shawshank Redemption starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman. It's a story of hope, a story of the triumph of the human spirit, of the triumph of goodness and all that is true. Located inside a prison, it follows the life of Andy Dufreyne, a former financial adviser, wrongfully jailed for life for the offence of killing his wife.

A short while back, I came across another movie like that; the more modern 16 Blocks starring the musician, Mos Def and Bruce Willis. Mos Def, with an annoying nasal twang but with heart-breaking vulnerability, acts the part of a con who must travel 16 blocks from his holding cell to a law court to give evidence against corrupt cops. His sole protection is a fading cop (Bruce Willis) who is permanently drunk.

Two of the greatest movies ever made, I think.

Walking through the side streets of Yaba three weeks ago, I saw a Stephen King collection of short stories thrown on the dirt-floor alongside other books for sale. The first story in it was titled Rita Hayworth & The Shawshank Redemption. I had no idea that was the original title. In the book, Andy is not a tall man, he is raped in prison and the convict who could have gotten him out with the truth, is not killed as in the movie but transferred to another prison. Red (Morgan Freeman's part) is not a black man either.

Andy is afraid to break out even after completing the tunnel but in the end, he makes one of the greatest escapes in the history of books or in moviedom. I love the book too. It was brilliantly written.

So the human spirit will march on as long as there are stories like this. Thank you, Mr King, thank you, Mos Def and Bruce Wilis. My life has been further enriched by these tales and the goodness of the human heart shown in them.

9 comments:

dScR?Be said...

beautifully written, haven't seen either of d movies but I will ASAP! hehehehe...

now where is this week's "Girl Whisperer"? I hear from d grapevine its about a woman named Tunde...

Eyin'ju Oluwa said...

I loved the book, i think i didnt sleep all night. I havent finished the movie, yet.

Laspapiscosco, its been sooo long!!!*hug*

Black Man Comes said...

i cant say how many times i have watched the movie shawshank redemption. i have not seen 16 blocks yet, but mos def is my man. so i have to see it.

next to shawshank is the usual suspects and ofcourse i have to give it out to star trek: TNG, VOyager and Deep Space Nine (Dont ask).

Jinta said...

16 blocks - love that, great movie

ibiluv said...

love the shawshank redemption myself...absolutely...glad he escaped....16 blocks is a great movie too

laspapi said...

@ 1st pet- who's been talking to you, scribe? :D

@ omosewa- missed you more, child of beauty. My thoughts have been with you

@ bmc- I like your movies, bmc? How've you been? You still in town?

@ jinta- you know wharr I'm saying!

@ ibiluv- The spirit is one. Those movies are beautiful.

dScR?Be said...

its unfortunate i didn't get to read d edition about "Tunde"

keep me a copy please, so i can read it someday soon...

Black Man Comes said...

Bros, I dey well o. I dont comot for our motherland. It was nice, but unfortunately couldnt make it to see any of ur plays sha (with all my mouthing). I pray next time.
I met a girl who knows ur name well. She saw some of ur plays last year and attested to the quality and richness of it. I watched if she would "bay at the moon" (afterall it was at night) but she just smiled - sorry i couldnt resist.

ablackjamesbond said...

The shawshank redemption is my favorite movie ever. I must have seen it like 20 times. A true testimony to the strength of the human spirit.

Black man comes...i think usual suspects is the next best movie i ever saw too... love ur taste in movies...off to check out your blog...lemme fin out what else we have in common