My favorite movie.

Rating: 10/10 (20 August 2010)

In 1995, when I was fourteen, out of the blue, I saw in a newspaper, that one of my favorite Stephen King stories, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, had finally made its way to the silver screen.
It wasn't showing at the Hoyts/Greater Union cinemas, rather a local independent/art-house cinema. Of course, that didn't bother me so I went.
Over 2hours long, Shawshank swept you into another world. Stephen King's short-novel was very faithfully adapted. Three pieces of brilliance stood out then, and still do today.
1 First, the film was brilliantly paced, never a dull moment. Having read the short-novel before hand didn't diminish any expectations.
2 Second a brilliant cast. Sheer brilliance from Morgan Freeman, and Tim Robbins, as Red and Andy Dufresne. Very strong supporting cast in Bob Gunton - the cruel Warden Sam Norton, other inmates: Gill Bellows as young Tommy Williams, James Whitmore, the elderly Brooks (brilliant expansion of character, that short novel only dealt with in two paragraphs). Yet the show was stolen by Clancy Brown. Brown's legendary performance as Captain Bryon Hadley, one guy you clearly didn't want on your case!
3 Finally what remains in my mind the most, from Red's last parole-hearing, to the end of the film. Words can't simply convey the emotions, this was what I didn't except. It was so powerfully done. My favorite quote: Andy Dufresne: "Get busy living, or get busy dying. " Enough said.