An excellent piece of story telling!

Rating: Null/10 (31 August 2000)

On the surface level, the subject is run-of-the-mill, i.e. the torture meted out to some prison inmates. But it is the way this subject is handled, that's what makes this movie so unique and memorable. Andy Dufresne is the very heart and soul of the movie. It is the greatness, the uniqueness of his character that sets him apart from the other inmates, not to mention the fact that he is wrongly convicted. Tim Robbins is absolutely brilliant in his role. I believe this is what is supposed to mean an Academy Award winning performance. I have only seen him in another movie , 'Jacob's Ladder', which is one of the most bleak movies I have ever seen. 'Shawshank' has its bleak moments, scenes of violence and torture, but what saves them from being a little too much for viewing is the narration by Morgan Freeman's character. Two scenes, one in which Andy gets beat by some other prison inmates and the one which Tommy(Gil Bellows) is shot are, I think the most violent in the movie. But the violence is kept under control by Red's ensuing narration. It is that which also gives the movie an aura that this is the story of one man who, with his friendship with Andy, realizes that he still has life beyond the four walls of the prison and being a convict doesn't mean that he is bereft of human dignity. Morgan Freeman, as always, is perfect in his role. This is perhaps the best movie of Freeman's (except maybe 'Driving Miss Daisy'). The supporting cast is equally good, especially Gil Bellows, who gives a short but poignant performance. Good cinematography(sweeping images) and a good music score(especially the concerto Andy broadcasts across the entire prison) are some of the magical moments of the movie and what adds to its greatness. Worth every moment!