Amazing Achievement

Rating: 9/10 (10 October 2009)

I feel this movie is a bit underrated/unappreciated, but it is truly one of my favorites of all time. Topnotch script, flawless acting. What a powerful story. Perfect casting. Maybe the most effective I've ever seen Morgan Freemen (and that's saying a lot). Parts of this movie were a bit difficult to watch, due to how brutally realistic the scenes where. This gut-wrenching film always managed to provide a small glimmer of hope, in spite of seemingly unsurmountable odds. The hard lessons learned and the viciousness of the warden and his imps stack up against the humble, meek and cleaver lead character, brilliantly played by Tim Robbins (his best work to date). I've lost count of just how many times I've seen this marvelous film, but each time I discover something that I missed previously. One of the best endings in cinematic history.