26.1 The Theory of Films (part 1)

The films I have chosen to base this report on are ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ and ‘Catch Me If You Can’.

The Shawshank Redemption was made in 1994 and is suitable for those aged 15 years or over; Frank Darabont directed the film and Niki Marvin was the producer.   The film was not a box office success initially, but word of mouth and TV screenings have led to the film being considered one of the best ever made. 

The film is about a banker, Andy Dufresne, who is imprisoned in Shawshank jail  for a crime he did not commit and the film tells the story of his 28 years in prison, the bond he develops with his fellow inmates and his eventual escape.  The characters represent a range of prisoners, from elderly prisoners doing a life sentence (Brooks Hatlen) through to younger petty criminals (young Tommy).  However, the main supporting character, who becomes Andy’s best friend, is called ‘Red’.  Red is played by Morgan Freeman.  Red is also the narrator, so the film is told from his point of view.  Freeman’s unique, mellifluous, deep voice is an effective way of keeping the audience engaged and building an emotional connection to Red’s character. In addition, the theme music is very distinctive and gives a spooky but mysterious feeling towards the film, which can keep the audience on their toes and aware of the puzzling effect the film may have.

The Shawshank Redemption follows drama conventions; this is because of the various conventions within the film that help the audience to come to this conclusion. The film consists of a gripping storyline that is expected in dramas; for example, a great deal of thought has been put into the plot of The Shawshank Redemption to keep the audience guessing and to make it more interesting. In addition, it is a crime drama and this sub-genre applies because of the illegal activities involved and the concept of the film is based around crime.

The Shawshank Redemption incorporates elements of Barthes Enigma Code theory because there is a mystery surrounding Andy Dufresne’s escape from Shawshank Prison.  This constitutes a major puzzle for viewers to solve towards the end of the film.  The story is mainly told in a linear, episodic manner with a few flashbacks incorporated to demonstrate Andy’s innocence. 

The main themes are friendship and the power of hope.  The bonds of friendship are unbreakable for Andy and Red and the ending shows that their bond continues after both have left the prison.  The power of hope is what gives all of the inmates the will to live.  Red is shown hoping that he will be granted parole over many years and once he gives up on this, he is finally released.   In Andy’s letter, he writes that “hope is a good thing”.  This seems to be what finally persuades Red to go and find his friend in Mexico.

‘Catch Me if You Can’ is a PG-13 film that is set in various locations across the USA and Canada and was released more recently than ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ in 2002.  The film was directed and produced by Steven Spielberg. For those that are gripped to a crime drama film,  this would best be suitable.

The movie is a biography of Frank Abagnale Jr who forged cheques and posed as a pilot, doctor and prosecutor all before the age of 19.  The film is also a crime drama because Frank commits several criminal offences, while successfully cashing over 4 million dollars’ worth of fake cheques. This concept has a gripping storyline because of the way in which it portrays Frank Abagnale Jr’s life.  The film is all the more engaging because it is inspired by a true story.

The storyline illustrates Levi Strauss’ theory of binary opposites, as it revolves around Tom Hanks representing ‘good’ and Leonardo DiCaprio representing “evil”.  The movie features a battle between law and order versus crime/fraud.  One can also see Todorov’s Equilibrium theory in action.  The story starts with ‘equilibrium’ as Frank Abagnale Jr is shown living a happy life with his parents.  ‘Disruption’ follows when he becomes aware that his mother is having an affair and then his parents divorce. ‘Realisation’ comes when he runs away from home to escape the situation, finds ways to persuade banks to cash his cheques and eventually he becomes a master cheque forger.  After a period of posing as a pilot and a doctor and cashing cheques worth millions of dollars, Frank attempts to ‘restore order’ by settling down with his fiancée in New Orleans and qualifying as a lawyer.  However, the FBI closes in and he is forced to go on the run again.  Finally, after he is caught, jailed and then released from prison to work with the FBI, ‘equilibrium’ is restored.  

In ‘Catch me if You Can’ there is a particular scene that occurs a few times within the film that involves young Frank Abagnale Jr having a conversation with FBI officer, Carl Hanratty, over the Christmas period; this is significant because on a day which is usually spent with family such as Christmas Eve, Frank decides to call Carl which shows that he is lonely as he has no one else to call which brings an emotional response with the audience which is a feature of a drama film.

In conclusion, the Shawshank redemption shows various elements that make the film such a sensitive and distinctive screenplay and produces a brilliant crime drama. The film has the sense of mystery and surprise throughout; which makes the typical prison life story expand into different areas such as, friendship, survival and enterprise.

Catch me if you can be a film that turns the 19 years of Frank Abagnale Jr’s life into an astonishing crime drama that covers various real life situations including, troubled childhood, parents separating and rehabilitation.