Perhaps the Perfect Movie

Rating: 10/10 (27 September 2005)

In every way, this film is an affirmation of faith; not simply religious faith, but faith of any kind. In no other way has a film of such simple storytelling been so well received nor powerful. At the same time, there is a measure of realism here not seen many other highly-praised movies.
The Godfather, The Return of the King, The Seven Samurai; all incredible movies, but the one flaw residing over all three is this: In very little ways are the protagonists in these true-to-life. A Mafia Don, a would-be King, warriors of old - they are larger than life; they have a quality to them that raises them above all others - and the films, thus, retain a quality in the realm of the fantastic that sully the realism they wish to portray.
The Shawshank Redemption is not in the like. Not one of the characters could be called "larger than life;" in no way are any of the characters "good" or "evil" - the boundary is so grayed that it no longer exists; they're simply human, with sins, hopes, loves, and fears. In a way no other film has ever been able to, Shawshank perfectly reflects a story of humanity and hope. It comes to be that we do not begin to see these people as characters, but begin to think as they do, to become them.
If you really want to see a film of limitless power and beauty, a film that you truly become delved into, with characters that you feel perfect sympathy and empathy towards, The Shawshank Redemption is it.