Powerful, poignant and thought-provoking.

Rating: 10/10 (15 January 2016)

So, 'The Shawshank Redemption'. Where do I start? The 1994 prison drama based on the Steven King novella 'Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption', from his 1982 collection 'Different Seasons'. Andy Dufresne, a banker from Maine, is convicted for the double murder of his wife and her lover, a crime he did not commit. He is sent to Shawshank State Penitentiary to serve a life sentence. There, he meets Red, a prisoner who smuggles items from the outside world. Andy, who had been an amateur geologist before being jailed, asks Red to get him a rock hammer for shaping rocks he collects from the exercise yard into small sculptures. One of the next items he orders from Red is a large poster of Rita Hayworth. Over the ensuing years, Andy regularly requests more posters from Red, including pin-ups of Marilyn Monroe and Raquel Welch. When asked, Andy tells Red that he likes to imagine he can step through the pictures and be with the actresses.
So now you've got a basic overview; let's get into the protagonist and of this fictional prison tale - Andy Dufresnse. As previously stated, Andy is a banker from Maine. At first sight Andy comes across an icy and cold man, whilst in the court room; causing the viewer to lean towards deeming him guilty, rather than innocent. The saying 'Never judge a book by its cover' springs to mind in this instance. We find out Andy is a well educated and extremely crafty gentleman because of his ability to sculpt small rocks with a rock hammer, and his knack for self-education through reading books.
A pivotal character in this films plot is Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding; of whom interestingly - is of Irish heritage; hence the last name 'Redding'. As you may have picked up his nickname is'Red and it is a play on words ofhis last name. He was sent to Shawshank Prison in Maine in 1927, because he planned and carried out his wife's murder by disabling her brakes which accidentally killed a neighbour and child as well, which earned him a life sentence at Shawshank Prison. In the film he is known as the 'guy who can get things' as he regularly smuggles many items into the prison with help from others. Also, a very craft and intelligent man.
It is also an incredibly moving story, which makes you ponder what it'd be like to feel as trapped as the prisoners, and to feel the desperation they would have. Not to ruin the plot completely but 'Red' described himself as 'institutionalised', which made him feel like he'd struggle to exist outside the walls of Shawshank. To me, It's a powerful, poignant and thought-provoking film like no other; which truly has the ability to alter your outlook on life, and I believe it could change it in a positive way as it teaches you to be grateful for the life you have, as some others are much worse off than you are. I also admire the attention given to the story, which no other movie that I have watched has quite done. And that is why I consider it as one of my all-time favourites.