I was browsing on IMDB (the Internet Movie Database) earlier and thought I’d check out their top 100 films of all time. To my surprise The Shawshank Redemption was listed right at the top, just above the Godfather with an overall rating of ‘9.1’. This lead to me thinking about whether the Shawshank Redemption really is the best film ever made or not. I have to say now that it is certainly in my top 3 films of all time (along with Fight Club and Once Upon a Time in the West).
The movie is based on a short story by legendary writer Steven King, and is directed by Frank Darabont. Tim Robbins plays a man who is charged with the crime of murdering his wife and her lover, and is sent to Shawshank prison in America. Whilst inside Andy (played by Robbins) meets Red (played excellently by Morgan Freeman), and their friendships starts to grow as Andy starts to make a reputation for himself on the inside.
The movie is acted brilliantly, and is the kind of film that you can watch over and over again and feel the same emotions that you did the first time. While the plot does sound rather average and boring on paper, it is only when you watch the film that you are completely immersed in the lives of the characters, and almost feel as if you are in prison with them. Overall I think that the Shawshank Redemption definitely is one of the best movies ever made, and should be seen by everyone. Whether it is the best ever is a matter of opinion, however.
