Not a great film, but a beautiful film in every way

Rating: 10/10 (16 September 2018)

Not a great film, but a beautiful, enjoyable film in every way (and surprisingly entertaining for a prison movie). It's really unfortunate that it ranks at no.1 on imdb, since that stigma will smear it forever. Before the discussion boards closed, about 99 of every 100 topics about it were "DOESN'T DESERVE No. 1 !!!" in all caps, of course. And there were very few, almost no discussions about the movie itself, although it's a well-crafted film that deserves analysis.
Take the scene, for example, when Andy speaks for the first time during the breakfast scene, and asks "What was his name?" about Fat Ass. This simple question, which nobody else thought of asking, sets the tone for the rest of the film in two aspects: One, that Shawshank is the kind of place where you can get out as soon as you come (dead, of course) without anybody even getting to know your name. And two, Andy is no ordinary prisoner. His simple question indicates that he at least has some sympathy for the dead newcomer, he's human, and thoughtful, qualities that have been long erased from the others by incarceration. A chilling quiet falls over the dining table, and heads bow.
It's strange that although it was made a mere 25 years ago, it looks like a movie from another century. There is no way this movie would be made the way it is today: there would be some love story between Andy and Red, there would be Asian and Indian prisoners (so as not to offend the Asian and Indian convicts, who may feel they are underrepresented after all) there would somehow be product placement all along, and I'm sure someone would find a way to insert a lesbian relationship in a man's prison movie.
This is pure storytelling that's faithful to the original material (only improves it, does not distract anything from it) and great attention to detail. Precise editing that makes the movie run smooth, without skipping a beat (how many people even realize that the movie runs for over 40 minutes more, after Andy's escape?) And of course, wonderful performances by each one of the cast.
Too bad that whenever the word "Shawshank" is mentioned in movie discussions, it will forever be followed by someone yelling "NO WAY IT'S NUMBER 1 !!". It's sad that some people are so obsessed with every movie list out there matching theirs, that out of frustration, they can't even appreciate a good movie when they see one.