Truly deserves its high rating.

Rating: 10/10 (21 March 2002)

Shawshank is an absolutely amazing film. Its concept is not especially compelling; you might even call it plain, but oh, the execution! Certainly this is how to make a movie.
I saw Shawshank in the cinema, which is always good, but not necessary for a film where the plot and filmatic skill are what draw you in. When I left, I noticed that everyone was sniffling. The film is so beautiful that even the tough people cried. I don't mean that it's a tearjerker either, it doesn't make you cry out of sadness or pull cheap stunts to get the tears flowing. Well, perhaps sadness has something to do with it, but it's a deeper kind of sadness, one that's got tears of joy in it too, not "how could they kill the dog?" sadness. And while it makes people cry, they're glad they saw it. It's not even my kind of movie, but there's no way I can give it less than a 10.
Notice that this movie is loved by all kinds of viewers. From the people who aren't so articulate to the movie snobs, this film hits home on a level that none other I know of does.