"Geology is the study of pressure and time. That's all it takes, really. Pressure... and time. That and the big goddamn poster."

Rating: 10/10 (15 November 2018)

Many believe that the IMDb Top 250 list is quite bad and unrealistic. I partially agree. The trouble is that cult classics, that have passed the test of time, are mixed with the latest blockbusters that enjoy enormous but only temporary popularity. Many of these films have a high rating due to strong marketing and internet hype, and will disappear altogether within a few months or maybe a few years, but I think that the positions of the films that have been on the list for more than a decade, with little variation or without any, pretty much reflect their real quality. "The Shawshank Redemption" deserves the first place it holds.
To me, this movie is just perfect. Great camera, masterful directing, a pace that makes two and a half hours simply fly by, top actors and their performances, well-integrated music, and most importantly Darabont's excellent adaptation of the King's story, make this film a timeless masterpiece. This prison story found the perfect balance between drama and humor, sadness and joy, alienation and friendship, malice and empathy, terror and hope. It can be viewed as an interesting adventure with a great plot twist, but also as a metaphor for life in general. "The Shawshank Redemption" was nominated for seven Oscars, it is at or near the top of almost every list of best films of all time, it's Freeman's favorite own film, King's favorite adaptation of his own story, by far the best adaptation of King and, if not the best, certainly one of the best movies of all time. I saw it several times and not once have I been able to write about it right after watching. It simply leaves me speechless every single time.
10/10