"Get busy living, or get busy dying."

Rating: 10/10 (3 August 2016)

It is hard to believe the one place to find hope and inspiration comes from a prison drama. Yet, regardless of this fact, it is a life changer; true awe inspired amazing film, it explores the true meaning of being a human and, beyond that the truth behind friendship. This is "The Shawshank Redemption".
In a nutshell, "The Shawshank Redemption" is the story of Mr. Andy Dufresne and his journey to reach the films title: redemption. A man accused of murdering his wife and her lover and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences. He is shipped to Shawkshank Prison, in Maine, to spend the rest of his life. Over the next 10-20-30 years, he finds his way to peace, truth and holds onto great hope in the midst of the terror of the prison system.
The performances in the film is top notch. Andy is played perfectly by Mr. Tim Robbins. The true hero in this piece is "Red" by the one and the only Morgan Freeman. He narrates the film and shows the development of each character, and above all characters he changes the most. Considering he is one of the oldest characters, he contradicts the old saying of "you cannot teach a old dog new tricks". Change is always possible, to those that are willing and hold on to hope. Another character that is beautifully painted is that of Brooks, who has been in the prison the longest and has really known nothing else. He has become "institutionalized", and has intern lost hope for the future and his life.
"The Shawshank Redemption" is one of those films that is a true work of both art and magic. It is a perfectly painted picture of a man who will not reliquish the only thing someone cannot directly take away: hope. From first shot of Shawshank prison - an utterly Gothic structure that permeates you with a sense of just how frightening the prison will be - you are enveloped inside of the world of Shawshank. You experience a prison life composed of routine after routine after routine after routine.
The remarkable staying power of this film is visible with every new shot in the film. It is able to sustain itself throughout its duration and to keep you enraptured with its remarkable hopeful story.
It seems important to write this review now, in a low point of my life, and watching the movie (quiet a few times) I have realized new and important points of the film. It has uplifted me and gave me hope, however in different ways then it did when I first saw it in early 2000's.
In the end, this is one of those movies that need to be seen by all.
"Remember Red, Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies."