Get busy living. Or get busy dying.

Rating: 10/10 (14 September 2005)

Outstanding. Never has a film gripped so powerfully before. Some films are great and hold you well enough, but this absolute powerhouse of a film keeps me glued, and is a great tribute to Hollywood, the great Stephen King short story, and of course a great tribute to all the things that make hope and freedom so wonderful. Tim Robbins gives the performance of his life, as Andy Dufresne. A strong-headed man who is sent to Shawshank prison, wrongfully accused of "murdering his wife, and the fellow she was banging." With that in mind, it is excruciatingly tense and powerful, as we watch Andy adapt to prison life, form a beautiful friendship with 'Red' the convict who knows how to get things, (played brilliantly by Morgan Freeman, who in my opinion deserved to win the Best Actor Oscar) and of course see him handle himself around those out to get him, which spans from other prisoners to the warden, who he helps turn the prison into a business, due to his good experience as a banker, the occupation which he held before being convicted. But as the picture goes on, you can see the yearning to get out. He is a bird that has been caged wrongfully, and when you see how long he has been locked away for, even though he didn't do it it really makes for stunning and compelling viewing. The ending is beautifully scripted, and the mood is outstanding. Frank Darabont has created an exceptional film, with realistic talents and people we can care for. The stereotype of the prisoner is made into something better, and the overall experience of this film is magnificent, with fantastic memorable quotes, and an exchange of good to bad atmosphere, which at one point makes you feel good watching it, but then shows the awful atrocities and seriousness of the situation. This complex style of direction and storytelling is amazing, and the ending is top notch, I won't spoil this bit though. You wanna know how good it is? Then watch it and be dazzled by this truly remarkable film.
10/10