Wonderfully crafted motion picture with wide appeal

Rating: 6/10 (16 November 2017)

THIS is what movies are all about! A magnificent story, first-class actors, a superbly talented director, plus all the necessary attendant and supporting talents including set design, lighting, music, scripting, and all else that is required in the mix to create a masterpiece.
Not a moment of the film is wasted, no segment too short or too long: it is all "just right".
Who would have thought that a story about men in a cruel prison system could be developed into a memorable movie with many marvellous messages.
May I single out one of my favourite actors, James Whitmore? I cannot imagine anyone else more suited to the role than he. In fact, the casting in this epic is remarkable: all parts ideally filled with class actors.
Morgan Freeman, on the other hand, is not one of my screen favourites, but it's impossible to find any fault with him, and somehow he puts his mark on the role and makes it his.
Tim Robbins is perfect; each time I see this film, I appreciate his acting more and more.
It's so easy to give Shawshank Redemption a TEN. Surely anything less would be an injustice? Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus !