What’s Aged the Best?
The narration, score, photography, timeless construction, fresh-fish pool, posters, prison dialogue, Tommy's dramatic function, and Morgan Freeman's performance lead the praise.
In the discussion (14)
Approx. transcript time · 00:46:31Read transcript
- The film is treated as a rare case where narration is essential rather than a storytelling crutch.
- The Thomas Newman score is praised, while the trailer's use of the Miller's Crossing score prompts a discussion of temporary music.
- Music from St. Elmo's Fire and Terms of Endearment is recalled as similarly common accompaniment for emotional sports broadcasts.
- The overhead prison photography and restrained period markers let the story span decades without feeling trapped in period display.
- The fresh-fish cigarette pool remains a memorable piece of prison social life.
- Red's understated claim that Andy's first two years were his worst is darkly funny because of the brutality being summarized.
- Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe, and Raquel Welch are endorsed as the right succession of cell-wall posters.
- Hadley's attack on Boggs is satisfying because it permanently ends the Sisters' abuse of Andy.
- Andy's observation that prison turned an honest banker into a crook is praised as durable dialogue.
- The warden's fixation on being called obtuse culminates in his threat to destroy the library and return Andy to abuse.
- Red's narration after the warden's death is singled out for its precise comic word choices.
- Morgan Freeman's performance is described as consistently perfect and among the best in the podcast's covered films.
- Tommy's arrival restores hope for Andy, so his murder becomes the act that finally changes Andy's course.
- Sophia Lauren is suggested as someone who could fit among the posters.