Simple Masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (18 November 2000)

The Shawshank Redemption is a movie that slid through the Theatres without drawing much deserved attention. It made no real impact at the academy award either. So why is this movie currently holding the second spot at the imdb top 250, only beaten by the untouchable "Il Padrino"? First of all, I believe the movie is spot on when it comes to the description of human endurance, persistence, and adaptation. The development of the characters also indicates that imprisonment and freedom can't always be divided by walls alone. Sometimes the highest walls and the worst conditions aren't enough to stop the human spirit, other times the absence of boundaries and even the prospect of something better, can break you down if you lack some of your primal needs. This is where I believe the greatness of this movie really shows. It perfectly pinpoints the vast scope of the human mind, and how we react both similar and differently to challenges in life, and the movie does so in a simple, straightforward way! As "Red" says upon the climax of this marvellous movie: "Every man has his breaking point"