Starring - Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, William Sadler & James Whitmore.
Running Time - 142 minutes
Rated - 15
There isn’t much left to be said about this movie but for those of you who’ve yet to treat yourself to his movie I shall endeavour to entice you.
Firstly, a clue that this film is going to be good is in the cast. It’s got Morgan Freeman in it, and he’s always a winner. If you don’t believe me then check out this list; Seven, Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby, Lucky Number Slevin. The guy even did the voice over for March of the Penguins…this guy turns good movies into great movies, and in this one he follows a similar path.
Oppositely, I can hardly remember anything else that Tim Robbins, who played the lead Andy Dufrense, has done other than this movie. It’s strange because he was the heart and soul of this movie, whose performance, although not credited with an award, made the movie what it is.
Besides the cast, what makes this film one of the best ever made is the message it conveys. It is one of eternal hope. Andy Dufrense is a young and successful banker whose life changes drastically when he is convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife and her lover. The tragedy however is that Andy is innocent, yet despite this he never loses hope.
He never gives up his quest to become a free man again. His years of tenacity, patience and wits keep him not only sane, but it gives his mind and a spirit a will to live. This film has a different feel to it. There has never been anything like it before and I don't know if there will again.
The film has everything, it has moments which makes you smile, that shock you and also which make you feel very good about yourself. It also makes you really feel for the characters and you get so absorbed into it that you start feeling the characters pain yourself.
I think I’ve gone on long enough now, it’s a clear and simple message from me, watch this movie now.
Best Bit: When the warden throws the chess piece at the poster and the penny suddenly drops!
Rating: 5 out of 5, it is considered by many as the greatest film ever made. Doesn’t make the top spot in my list but it was certainly given a great deal of consideration.
