Tim Robbinshas had a long time 25 years, to be exact to contemplate his filmThe Shawshank Redemption.
1 ranking on IMDBs user listof the most popular films of all time.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: When you hear that this film is still the No.
Michael Weinstein/Castle Rock Entertainment
For perspective, when youre in this industry, oftentimes people are in a constant quest to outdo themselves.
If your new film doesnt outperform your last film, youre on your way out.
And so to be part of a film like that is such an honor.
This one is about a true, deep friendship that lasts.
And part of me thinks that people want or need that kind of story to be told.
We all have various things that imprison us in our lives.
Sometimes its a job you hate but you have to go to.
Sometimes its a relationship that youre trying to make work that is hurting you in some way.
Sometimes its the circumstances youre born into.
And I think that is another theme thats deeply resonant with audiences.
But no, not with this one.
Our obligation was to find the truth of that script.
So everyone, every actor, every crew member, had similar connections to the material.
Cinematographer Roger Deakins was really instrumental in realizing the scope of the film.
So I never felt that far removed from the people that we were incarcerating.
And nothing about the script was exploitative, in my opinion.
Its good we have prisons.
Put them away forever.
And thats ultimately the way we think about it.
We dont tend to think about these people as human beings.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
