A very good movie, but overrated nonetheless.

Rating: 8/10 (16 December 2006)

The Shawshank Redemption was released in a very good year for movies (1994) and although it could very well be argued that, at the time, it did not get the credit it deserved-- being overshadowed by movies like Pulp Fiction and Forrest Gump, it now may get more credit than it is due. Time and time again I have heard the phrase, "They don't make them like this anymore," when The Shawshank Redemption is spoke of. However, it should be noted that Shawshank was not the first movie of its kind and owes much credit to its predecessors (taking elements and ideas from movies like Dead Man Walking, It's a Wonderful Life, etc.) Well paced and often times very moving, The Shawshank Redemption provides us with what is initially a very realistic situation: middle aged man Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is put on trial wrongfully (as far as we know) for murder. Found guilty, he is put in jail for a life sentence. As the movie progresses , in part from beautiful cinematography, and in part from lightly tugging at the audiences heart strings, we are able to sympathize with the inmates, and almost pity them. The concept of having a home and not knowing what to do when not in your comfort zone is something that the Shawshank Redemption uses to make a simple idea into a very good full length movie. However, it is ranked #2 on IMDb's top 250 (with a rating of 9.2 it is actually higher than The Godfather, thus should be ranked #1) and this, I believe at least, is an undeserving spot for The Shawshank Redemption. While it is very good, it is certainly not among the ranks of Citizen Kane, The Godfather and others on that level. Providing us with little or no historical or cultural relevance, the movie likely earns its ranking because people can identify with it, so they end up enjoying it, and end up giving it a 10 out of 10 because they enjoy it so much. Though it pains me to say it, just because a movie is highly enjoyable, it does not make it great by any means. Andy Dufresne acts as a metaphor for the rest of the human race, and shows, how sometimes, we are all wrongfully accused of something or other. However, the movie pertains only to itself, not taking on anything bigger-- so it stays a very good movie rather than an excellent one.