Life-changing, life-affirming

Rating: 10/10 (2 January 2011)

Incredible to think that, like "It's A Wonderful Life", this film did not do well when it was released. The name, plus the fact it is a prison movie, plus the heavyweight tag-line, just didn't capture people's imagination. With its release on video and word-of-mouth, something changed, and now it is widely considered one of the greatest films of all time.
The reason is simple: from start to finish, "The Shawshank Redemption" is about as close to perfect as a film like this comes. The best adaption Frank Darabont has made from a Stephen King story, despite a couple of liberties taken (most notably, Red is not a black American, but a white Irishman in King's original), the whole thing works so well, you would not change a single detail! It is crafted impeccably; every scene is a masterpiece, and the performance from every single person involved is spot-on. An epic tale that works on any level you want it to; a simple prison drama, an examination of political corruption, a religious allegory, and so much in between; like "Lord Of The Rings", the metaphor is practically endless.
Perhaps it is because of this fact that so many people return to this film; it doesn't matter what time of life you see it, what you are going through, or how you choose to accept the film, it will always offer you something. That really is quite special. A story of hope that can be genuinely life-changing, and life-affirming. A gem of a movie