The Shawshank Redemption
Directed By: Frank Darabont

There have been many, many prison films in the past. Some of them have been excellent, some have been so-so, and then there is Shawshank. The quintessential prison film has proven to be the best movie ever made about the prisoners that interact together. It also is timeless in the sense that for the two and half hour time span you find yourself enthralled in the friendship between Andy (played marvelously by Tim Robbins) and Red (the always amazing Morgan Freeman). What follows in this story of a man who is wrongly accused of murdering his wife and lover pulls you in, you see the brutality of the guards and co-prisoners.

What truly makes this movie an amazing event is that it’s slow burning build takes you in, the characterization is beautiful, from the two keys to the supporting players. The actors are superb in the story and the fact that the movie is based on a Stephen King novella even further shocks the viewers. It truly is a marvel of filmmaking, but I begin to question director Frank Darabont’s durability, he just can’t seem to get out of prison. His second film was the equally beautiful, but overlong The Green Mile. The performances at the height of this film is what truly makes it a marvel and masterpiece to view.