Just a Beautiful movie

Rating: 9/10 (19 January 2014)

I'm a guy that takes pride on the fact of being quite open-minded when it comes to appreciating different genres and kinds of stories. I love movies that faithfully and movingly depict the ugly side of humanity, but every now and then I also like something that tells us that not everything is lost.
The Shawshank Redemption introduces us to Andy Dufresne. A gentile yet emotionally estranged banker who's wrongfully accused of murdering his wife and her lover. This brings him to a gruesome prison were his will to maintain his humanity will be put to the test by the corrupt and abusive authorities of the prison, and also by some of his fellow inmates. In this bleak scenario he will find hope in the guise of friendship. Which will push him to rise above the situation.
This movie is all about hope. About the power of friendship and the reluctance to give up on life, even under the darkest circumstances. Even locked in a pit of pure evil, human spirit can be enough to lift you up.
Tim Robbins is convincing and moving in his performance, although he is outshone by a brilliant Morgan Freeman, who always seems to effortlessly touch the soul of the audience with his performances. The bad guys also generate the right amount of repulsion, with a good job from Bob Gunton as the morally questionable warden and Clancy Brown in the memorable role of the violent and vicious captain Hadley.
I've seen some reviews questioning the placement of this film as #1 for IMDb users. I don't think any of us can put a movie above all the rest or below them. Art is subject to personal appreciation and there will never be a single opinion more valuable than the rest. What's undeniable is that Shawshank caused what it intended. Moving the majority of people that have seen it through a beautiful story that aims to the human spirit and it's power to shed light in the darkest moments.