probably the best film ever made

Rating: 10/10 (9 March 2001)

I've read a number of the other user comments on this movie, and I was glad to see that every one of them regarded the movie as one of the best they've ever seen. The fact that 100% of the reviews I saw all rated this movie as somewhere beyond excellent says it all. I like all sorts of films, from serious to goofy comedies, but my list of the best films of the last 15 or so years includes the heavy hitters like Rain Man, Unforgiven, Jerry Maguire, Good Will Hunting, Murder In The First (because of Kevin Bacon's awe-inspiring performance) and Saving Private Ryan, which are all fabulous movies. But Shawshank tops them all by a good margin. It is, without a doubt, that good.
I'm also an avid reader, one of those who thinks that the book almost always far outshines the movie, no matter how good the movie. And Shawshank is one of my favorite stories by my favorite author, but this movie takes the story to a completely new level. I've never encountered another written or filmed work that better shows the 'triumph of the spirit' theme.
There are a number of deeply moving scenes in the movie, but for me, the climax of the movie, the point where everything comes together, is when Morgan Freeman's character is released from prison and contemplating killing himself. He finally comes to understand (or maybe just to accept) something that Tim Robbins' character told him earlier, and he says, "Get busy living... or get busy dying. That's goddamn right." This line starts a sequence that leads up to what, in my opinion, is the most perfect ending ever filmed.
Every aspect of this movie is of the highest caliber. The script is excellent, the acting of Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins is incredible, the musical score is flawless, and the direction is obviously superb. What's even more incredible is that this was Frank Darabont's first feature film - and he surely rose above to make this one. Forrest Gump won the Oscars it did because of its sentimentality and the nostalgic look at American history. It did NOT win because it was the best picture of that year. I had no problem with Tom Hanks winning the best actor award, but Shawshank should have won every other award it was nominated for. I though Forrest Gump was excellent, but Shawshank was so much better that its getting beat out for best picture is on a par with Shakespeare In Love beating Saving Private Ryan.
Well, I'll get off my soap box now. I would have no problem going on with how moving and beautifully-done this movie is, but I think you probably get the point by now.