I was wrong

Rating: 8/10 (8 July 2009)

Very wrong. For so long, I avoided watching this film. I already knew what it was going to be like: the slightly above average movie with themes about hope and freedom. An all-out American flick which only a sentimental American could enjoy, and thus I resented it for holding the title as the best film ever. When it came to the themes I wasn't wrong; hope & freedom are the skeleton on which this film is built but the way it is executed far surpassed any anticipation I could have mustered, had I actually looked forward to watch it. Morgan Freeman is sublime as always, Tim Robbins perhaps even better. It slowly develops and unfolds, which is refreshing compared to all too many fast-cut films where it seems that the idea is that fast pace equals quality. I swallowed Shawshank Redemption whole, and even though I do not agree with its No. 1 ranking, I can now understand. Great movie!