The Greatest Movie That I Have Ever Seen

Rating: Null/10 (25 December 2002)

**SOME MINOR SPOILERS**
I was like some other people in that I have had never seen "The Shawshank Redemption" until 2 nights ago. Now, I just got done watching it for the 2nd straight night in a row. How anyone can say that this movie is overrated is beyond me; it is almost like they want to say that to be different!
The acting is outstanding by everyone involved including Robbins, Freeman, Sadler, Gunton, Brown, etc. Maybe the most chilling scene is when Tommy reveals to Red and Andy about how he had a cellmate at another prison reveal to him about that time "he killed that golf pro and that b*tch he was knocking up". There was something about that scene in how Darabont filmed it with the lighting and the laugh of that guy. It left an impression on me. It also was the turning point of the movie, although you could tell from the very beginning that Andy was not like any other convict.
One thing that sorta bothered me was near the end when it was revealed to the press about all the stuff going on at Shawshank, how it was so quick for Norton, Hadley, etc. to get theirs. I mean how did Andy really accomplish this without giving himself away and how did they not trace his whereabouts or question him? Oh well, I guess wondering about one thing like that is not too bad. Normally, there are like 5 things or more that I wonder about in every movie, but that is why it is a movie, I guess.
At any rate, don't let the above paragraph ruin it for you...I'm just a weirdo after all...:) The music, camera angles, lighting, acting, etc. are all outstanding.
This is a movie that needs to be watched over and over again and should be treasured. There is a reason for it being ranked #2 all-time, people. It's that good. If you wind up enjoying this movie, I recommend another Darabond movie based on a Stephen King work in "The Green Mile". It is a little-bit more fantasy than Shawshank but it is an outstanding movie.