This is the story of Andy Dufresne a young sportsman (played by newcomer Joey Barton) who is sent down for repeated bouts of violence against the hand that feeds him - the public - after consuming too many Burgers and some alcohol. Incarcerated, despite his protestations that he was provoked by comments about his family, and seemingly unrepentant.
He is transferred to St James, a dour and depressing place where brutality from both staff and other interns is commonplace. It is here that that he meets up with ‘Red’ Redding (played with sensitivity by Kevin Keegan who has mastered the look of a man destined to losing when it comes to the big issues, like managing England, blowing 11 point leads) a former winner on the outside, but a man facing a second spell of internment as a consequence of falling on hard times after the first failed effort. Red, holds a somewhat precarious position, walking a fine line as a favourite amongst the hard core but institutionalised, he can see no further than his next pay cheque. He takes Andy under his wing, recognising a ‘special’ need in Andy as he tries to pull him onside, saying, “Let me tell you something marra. Dope is a dangerous thing. Dope can drive a fella insane. This might explain the behaviour of 52,000 nutters round these parts”
At the head of St James inner sanctum is the character of a brutal Prison Guard, in the form of Hadley (played by Dennis Wise) as sadistic as the worst inmate and as quick tempered as the man who runs the show, Warden Norton (played by Mike Ashley) whose welcoming words strike fear into the new inmates, “I knaa two things: discipline and money. Divvent ye expect mair money, since I’m a bit skint. Put wor trust in the bank; wor ass belongs to me. Wot Cheor to St James.” Hadley is terrified of Norton, but a contemptible bully, he recognises that Andy may be a bit ‘special’ . Andy learns to cope with the routine inside, some of the lifers recognise him and offer advice, one of them Brooks (played by Alan Shearer) tells Andy, “Son, six wardens have ganned through here in my tenure, and I’ve learned one immutable, universal truth, I am St James. Actaully two, ye’ll win nowt in a black and white shirt, Alreet?”
The twists and turns of life on the inside are background to the friendship between Red and Andy, as Andy is elevated to a position of trust by Norton, Red fears that Andy may be taking liberties but Andy assures him by showing him his skills, Red is taken aback saying, “Well, I’ll be damned. Did I say ye were canny? Shit, yer an idiot!” Some time later Andy escapes, to the fury of Norton and Hadley, and exposes the massive debt hole covered up by Norton, who is chased down by law enforcement whilst trying to offload the prison to some mugs from the middle east. Red is released after serving what seems like forty years on the inside, still a systemic failure, and is re-united(sic) with his former charge. The final narration from Red tells the tale of the escape, “Andy Dufresne - a spoiled brat who crawled through a river and came oot stinking worse than shit on the other side.”
8.5/10, A tale of companionship, thuggery and seeming subjugation. A fantasy like no other, 50 years in the making and whilst looking every inch a top notch effort, don’t expect it to win any awards.Which is appropriate.