Shawshank is one of the greatest films ever made, a classic.

Rating: 10/10 (20 August 2006)

If you have never seen this film do your self a favour, go rent the DVD now and prepare to have yourselves one of the best evenings entertainment you are ever likely to have in front of a TV set. Right from the opening scenes when you see the dramatic sweeping aerial shots of the prison you know that you are in for something special. When I first read the synopsis for this film, and saw it described as a brutal prison drama I thought it wasn't the kind of film I would enjoy. Boy was I wrong I think that Shawshank is the best film I have ever seen. Its much more than a brutal prison drama it's a film of friendship, injustice, resolve and most of all hope. The film tells the story of Andy wrongly convicted and imprisoned for the murder of his wife and her lover and the friendship he forms with Red a long serving inmate. Andy isn't like most of the other prisoners he's quiet, educated, plays chess and has a middle class background. Red is from the streets a seasoned prisoner who serves his time with weary resignation. Their unlikely friendship blossoms and grows in to love, of the non-sexual type, and it's this bond this friendship that is the centre of the film. The performances given by Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins are astounding, sorry Tom Hanks but I think Morgan/Tim were robbed of the Oscar that year. I love the tag line from the film "Fear can hold you prisoner but hope can set you free" WOW an amazing, moving triumph of a film, if you haven't seen it yet what are you waiting for! Watching The Shawshank Redemption is one of those things you have to do before you die.