Cool Hand Luke

For nearly thirty years before The Shawshank Redemption, film prisoners had hope – and Luke never let that flame die on them. Despite the calm pacing, this story of invincibility, desire, and the familiar urge to do something captivated everyone. Besides, Paul Newman's smile got to me so much that I would go to a similar facility and get locked up with this gang right away if I could. Just to experience that almost animalistic mixture of emotions. I can eat fifty eggs. (08/21/2007)

A film that is just a hair's breadth away from perfection. Paul Newman portrayed this role so incredibly naturally, essentially through minimalist acting. Great overall plot layout, which has a depressive progression, and in the finale, what was inevitable happens. And yet, at the end, I didn't feel like it turned out completely badly. George Kennedy definitely contributed to that feeling as well. (06/16/2015)

God knows why Luke was always causing trouble and liked to seek it out. Probably to prove to himself that he was still alive?! But that's what a lot of the movie is about. The plot was pretty simple, but well fleshed out and it moved quickly for me thanks to Luke's crazy ideas. There was a really big and varied story to fit into the two hour running time, led by the great Paul Newman along with George Kennedy. He was so cool, that Paul "Luke" Newman! And always will be! (07/18/2010)

An extraordinarily impressive drama about the cost of human freedom and dignity, set in the prison environment of the United States in the 1960s. Those mirrored glasses on the guard's eyes will stay in my memory for a long time. One of Paul Newman's pivotal roles. Overall impression: 90%. (01/20/2009)

A heavy-handedly narrated prison drama with solid atmosphere, Paul Newman's mesmerizing face and a specific feel-good vibe. Good as a precursor to The Shawshank Redemption, but hand on heart, Darabont's opus tells the story of get busy livin' or get busy dyin' more comprehensively and on a whole other level. (12/20/2023)