An Epic that will Leave you Speechless

Rating: 10/10 (8 May 2020)

What an experience. Because that's what this is, more of an experience than a film. Just sensational in so many ways. So visceral, real, emotional, rewarding. Shawshank has it all. The cast, the story, the set, costume, direction, script, soundtrack... everything was sublime. Numerous touching moments, comedic moments, dramatic moments, sombre moments and heart warming moments combine to make this a goliath of film making.
The entire cast were great, not a single dud performance, but the performances of Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman were stellar. Robbins as Andy Dufresne gave such a powerful, varied and nuanced performance. As soon as I'd finished watching I wanted to dive straight into a second viewing to appreciate it one more time. Freeman as well was superb, tying the film together so perfectly with his narration and overall presence.
What I really loved about Shawshank was how it didn't dwell on the crimes of the men, but treated them as very real and human people. Despite being set in a prison this wasn't a film about crime and punishment, but about life and hope. It was because of this that the film has so much heart. Sombre, yes, often bleak, but always with a vein of hope running through it.
The way that prison life was presented felt quite real and gritty. The costume, set design, and sinister portrayals of Warden Norton and Captain Hadley brought the film to life, creating a dangerous and brutal atmosphere for proceedings.
What Shawshank also did very well was transcend time so effortlessly and effectively. As mentioned earlier, this film managed to feel like an epic novel crammed into two hours twenty minutes. There is so much to digest and pick through, yet that time manages to absolutely fly by.
Intricate. Detailed. Rich. Rewarding. The Shawshank Redemption most definitely earns its position at the top of IMDb's highest rated films list.