DVD | Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption is one of the best movies ever made.

Now that it’s been released on DVD, my collection is a little bit more complete.

But what makes this movie so good? The story. Or should that be stories. This movie isn’t just about wrongfully convicted Andy Dufresne, though he is the key character. It’s about everyone who he meets and interacts with.

It’s a movie that fit’s into the prison break genre, but never focuses on the break until it happens. It’s a movie of faith, hope and redemption. It’s a feel good movie, with plenty of heartache.

Andy gets to discover the extremes of humanity. The depths that man can attain through evil, and the hight that he can soar through good. And all the time keeps to his own quiet, thoughtful existence, helping people when he can, and not letting others get the better of his soul.

It’s a movie that you never know quite what’s going to happen next, yet feels familiar. It refrains from using any of the old clichés and manages to stay original. It takes you on an emotional roller coaster as you find yourself drawn to each character, and feel their pain and joy as the story unfolds.

The acting is superb, with Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman giving their best performances. The cinematography and sets are perfect, giving the feel of the huge prison, with a sombre greyness all around – this is a place the seeks to destroy you, to leave you with nothing once your term is done.

And the attention to detail with the story. Based on a Steven King novella, it’s rare to find such a well thought out, well written story that has so much depth and scope as this.

If you haven’t seen Shawshank redemption yet, shame on you, go make amends immediately.