Films about innocent prisoners typically revolve around individuals who have been wrongfully convicted of a crime and must navigate the challenges of life behind bars while fighting to prove their innocence. These movies often highlight the injustice of the legal system and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
“The Shawshank Redemption”, 1994
Director: Frank Darabont
This classic film follows the story of Andy Dufresne, a banker who is wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to life in Shawshank State Penitentiary. The film explores themes of hope, friendship, and the indomitable human spirit.
Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, William Sadler, Clancy Brown, Gil Bellows, Mark Rolston, James Whitmore, Jeffrey DeMunn, Larry Brandenburg, Neil Giuntoli, Brian Libby, David Proval, Joseph Ragno, Jude Ciccolella, Paul McCrane, Renee Blaine, Scott Mann, John Horton, Gordon Greene, Alfonso Freeman, Vincent Foster, John E. Summers, Frank Medrano, Mack Miles, Alan R. Kessler, Morgan Lund, Cornell Wallace, Gary Lee Davis, Neil Summers, Ned Bellamy, Joe Pecoraro, Harold E. Cope Jr., Brian Delate, Don McManus, Donald Zinn, Dorothy Silver, Robert Haley, Dana Snyder, John D. Craig, Ken Magee, Eugene C. DePasquale, Bill Bolender, Ron Newell, John R. Woodward, Chuck Brauchler, Dion Anderson, Claire Slemmer, James Kisicki, Rohn Thomas;
Production year: 1994;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 142 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 9,3;
More information about the film “The Shawshank Redemption” on the website imdb.com
“The Hurricane”, 1999
Director: Norman Jewison
Based on the true story of Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, this film portrays the wrongful conviction of a boxer for a triple murder and his fight for exoneration with the help of a young man who becomes his advocate.
Starring: Denzel Washington, Vicellous Shannon, Deborah Kara Unger, Liev Schreiber, John Hannah, Dan Hedaya, Debbi Morgan, Clancy Brown, David Paymer, Harris Yulin, Rod Steiger, Badja Djola, Vincent Pastore, Al Waxman, David Lansbury, Garland Whitt, Chuck Cooper, Brenda Denmark, Marcia Bennett, Beatrice Winde, Mitchell Taylor Jr., Bill Raymond, Merwin Goldsmith, John A. MacKay, Donnique Privott, Moynan King, Gary DeWitt Marshall, John Christopher Jones, Gwendolyn McCann, Richard M. Davidson, George T. Odom, Tonye Patano, Fulvio Cecere, Phillip Jarrett, Rodney «Bear» Jackson, Judi Embden, Terry Claybon, Ben Hernandez Bray, Mike Justus, Kenneth McGregor, Frank Proctor, Peter Wylie, David Wm Gray, Joe Matheson, Bill Lake, Robin Ward, Harry Davis, Pippa Pearthree, Jean Daigle, Rob Evans;
Production year: 1999;
Genre: drama, biography, sport;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 146 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “The Hurricane” on the website imdb.com
“The Green Mile”, 1999
Director: Frank Darabont
Set on death row in a Southern prison, this film tells the story of a gentle giant with supernatural abilities who is wrongly accused of murder. The film delves into themes of redemption, compassion, and the nature of good and evil.
Starring: Tom Hanks, David Morse, Bonnie Hunt, Michael Clarke Duncan, James Cromwell, Michael Jeter, Graham Greene, Doug Hutchison, Sam Rockwell, Barry Pepper, Jeffrey DeMunn, Patricia Clarkson, Harry Dean Stanton, Dabbs Greer, Eve Brent, William Sadler, Mack Miles, Rai Tasco, Edrie Warner, Paula Malcomson, Christopher Joel Ives, Evanne Drucker, Bailey Drucker, Brian Libby, Brent Briscoe, Bill McKinney, Gary Sinise, Rachel Singer, Scotty Leavenworth, Katelyn Leavenworth, Bill Gratton, Dee Croxton, Rebecca Klingler, Gary Imhoff, Van Epperson, David E. Browning, Fred Astaire, Tommy Barnes, Bill Craddock, Christopher Greenwood, Rev. Wes Hall, Daniel D. Harris, Phil Hawn, Mark Heenehan, Jude Herrera, Ted Hollis, Don Langley, Robert Malone, Arnold Montey, Ginger Rogers;
Production year: 1999;
Genre: drama, fantasy, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 189 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,6;
More information about the film “The Green Mile” on the website imdb.com
“In the Name of the Father”, 1993
Director: Jim Sheridan
Based on a true story, this film follows the wrongful conviction of a young man and his father for an IRA bombing in England. It explores their struggle for justice and the impact of their imprisonment on their relationship.
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Pete Postlethwaite, Emma Thompson, John Lynch, Mark Sheppard, Beatie Edney, Frank Harper, Britta Smith, Corin Redgrave, Gerard McSorley, Alison Crosbie, Philip King, Anthony Brophy, Frankie McCafferty, Paul Warriner, Julian Walsh, Stuart Wolfenden, Jo Connor, Karen Carlisle, Seamus Moran, Billy Byrne, Maureen McBride, Jane Nolan, Laurence Griffin, Jason Murtagh, Kelly McKeavney, Joanna Irvine, Fiona Daly, Catherine Dunne, Anna Meegan, Marie Jones, Leah McCullagh, Saffron Burrows, Jamie Harris, Don Baker, Barbara Mulcahy, Mick Tohill, Peter Sheridan Sr., Joe McPartland, Stanley Townsend, Tim Perrin, Tony Denham, Rob Spendlove, Phil Davis, Martin Murphy, Richard Graham, Oliver Maguire, Maurice Kehoe, Rachael Dowling;
Production year: 1993;
Genre: drama, crime, biography;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 133 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
More information about the film “In the Name of the Father” on the website imdb.com
“Life”, 2017
Director: Daniel Espinosa
This comedy-drama film follows the wrongful conviction and subsequent incarceration of two men who are sentenced to life in a Mississippi prison. The film spans several decades and portrays their enduring friendship and resilience in the face of injustice.
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, Rebecca Ferguson, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ariyon Bakare, Jesus Del Orden, Allen McLean, Leila Grace, Mari Gvelesiani, David Muir, Elizabeth Vargas, Camiel Warren-Taylor, Haruka Kuroda, Naoko Mori, Alexandre Nguyễn, Hiu Woong-Sin;
Production year: 2017;
Genre: horror, science fiction;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 103 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,6;
More information about the film “Life” on the website imdb.com
These films about innocent prisoners offer poignant and thought-provoking narratives that shed light on the flaws of the justice system and the human capacity for resilience in the face of adversity.
The selection of films about innocent prisoners offers a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the human spirit in the face of injustice. These films capture the resilience, courage, and determination of individuals who find themselves wrongfully convicted, shining a light on the flaws within the criminal justice system. Through gripping narratives and compelling performances, these movies not only entertain but also challenge viewers to question their own beliefs and biases. From tales of redemption and perseverance to stories of friendship and betrayal, these films leave a lasting impact, reminding us of the importance of fighting for justice and the indomitable nature of the human spirit.
