Awesome Movie

Rating: 10/10 (21 March 2014)

Shawshank is unique in the genre and unlocked a new potential for movie makers to break the inherent confines of a prison picture. This was demonstrated later on with Darabont once again redefining the prison picture in The Green Mile - a classic in its own right. So why is Shawshank so popular and tops many best movie lists? Not hard to figure out. The entertainment value is high and our empathy is heightened for Andy and Red. A lot of deserved attention over the years has gone to Freeman, but Robbins carries his part just as well. We have to remember the Andy character is somewhat that of a semi-tough geek, which is a tough balancing act to portray - unless part of your own personality is much like that. Robbins impresses me for this and meets the expectation. But I think Freeman's character allows more scope for exceeding an expectation which is probably why Freeman is lauded a bit more. So Shawshank, after all these years, still awaits like a trap to ensnare new devotees. Another sign of its worthiness - it pulls you in quickly.