“The Shawshank Redemption” is easily the greatest movie of all time. The themes of hope and redemption permeate the movie, making it not only a timeless classic but a work of art; a magnum opus of the movie genre.
The dynamic between Red, the narrator (voiced by the iconic Morgan Freeman), and Andy Dufresne is notable, showing their character development as Red goes from having no hope to hope being the only thing keeping him going. The story exhibits what a bleak life in prison is, grappling with the reality of institutionalization, and how it can lead prisoners to want to be in prison rather than free men. The main characters consist of a group of prisoners who joke around, allowing the watcher to relate with these men and immediately identify with the friend group.
Another example of how great this movie is is the score. The movie opens with “If I Didn’t Care” by the Ink Spots, a perfect song for the opening, where the watcher sees Andy drunk sitting in a car, contemplating whether to kill his wife and her secret lover. Almost every part of the score by Thomas Newman fits the scene, truly accompanying the movie beautifully. Contrasting beautiful pieces that are juxtaposed with the bleak and bitter reality of prison life with thrilling pieces playing during action-packed moments, the score never misses a beat. The allegorical nature of the movie is fascinating, with things like rock polishing being a deeper allegory, and Christian imagery being incredibly symbolic. Not only is this movie great and a work of art, but it is also incredibly entertaining.
Some movies are undoubtedly works of art, such as Pixar’s “Wall-E”, but some do not find them incredibly entertaining. Others, such as Pixar’s “Cars 2”, are about the opposite, being low quality or even bad movies but on the other hand incredibly entertaining. “The Shawshank Redemption” succeeds in being both, which is a feat on its own, yet it is both the most entertaining movie of all time and the greatest work of art in the film genre. It seems that one discovers something new with each rewatch of the film, and it is a great movie to put on when one does not have anything to watch.
The movie is based on one of the four stories in the novel “Four Seasons” by Stephen King, and it is a rare occurrence that the film is greater than the book, but this movie is much greater than its paper counterpart. If you have not seen this movie I highly recommend and encourage you to watch it soon at your leisure, as it is a spectacular movie that will continue to be rewatched for years to come.
