My two favorite movies are Ink and a christmas carol (various versions of the latter).
Both films have a lot of emphasis on the concept of redemption, a person who engages in a destructive lifestyle or worldview who eventually turn to a mindset that is more humane and constructive rather than the path they were one. They are stories of redemption.
Are there other movies or books along that kind of theme I could look into to see if I like if I like movies about redemption?
Well, The Shawshank Redemption for one.
That was a good movie in general, but I don’t think it had a lot to do with redemption because the main character was innocent.
Hoosiers
Lord Jim
A Clockwork Orange (if they’d included the last chapter from the UK-published book)
The Searchers
In Cold Blood (not Dick and Perry, just the pop bottles)
Papillon (again, the book makes it clearer: if he’d stayed in France he’d just been a thug, but in prison he achieved self-sacrifice and loyalty)
**The Birdman of Alcatraz **, taking the freest liberties with historical fact.
Schindler’s List
Return of the Jedi
The Fisher King.
Somewhere
Crazy Heart
The Comedy
Pulp Fiction - the final scene in the film is Jules realizing that his destructive lifestyle is no longer edifying and decides to walk the earth “Kung-fu” style
One of my favorites is Groundhog Day
A Christmas Carol
I would argue that it wasn’t necessarily about the redemption of any of the prisoners, but rather of the prison itself.
My favorite movie, period. And…
A Christmas Carol also Regarding Henry
I always thought it was Red’s redemption. He regained his hope and humanity. Without hope he was an institutionalized being. With hope he was a whole person again. Andy taught him to reclaim his hope.
Cruel Intentions
Spiderman (he turns to crimefighting after he unwittingly abets in his uncle’s murder and kills the murderer)
Brokedown Palace
Pretty much every character on Buffy has had a redemption episode. “Amends” and “Storyteller” particularly stand out in that regard.
Fringe episode “The White Tulip”
Men of Honor, for DeNiro’s character.
Unforgiven
Seven Samurai (and its homages)
Bad Lieutenant
American History X