For starters, I will draw attention to the above claim that 'Shawshank Redemption', hereafter referred to as "shawshank," is the best film ever. And I mean better than 'Citizen Kane', 'Its a Wonderful Life', 'Godfather' and 'Dark Knight.' Those are all excellent films to be sure (except Citizen Kane, which is good, but not great, and I may explain why in the future, but not right now), but shawshank is superior for a number of reasons. For one, the technical aspects of the film, such as cinematography, music, acting, direction, writing and editing are all of the highest caliber. The music in particular is an example of perfect emotional balance in a film like this. Even when there is no music playing whatsoever, the silence of the moment is a perfect use of sound as well.
To illustrate, watch the scenes after it's discovered that Andy is innocent. Watch as Norton systematically murders Andy's witness, then keeps Andy in solitary for an additional month. There is no music, only the dialog. This accentuates Nortons words by not providing a distraction, allowing the audience to fully grasp the villainy of the moment. It would still have been a great scene if they'd played a slow dirge to punctuate the warden's taunts, but not as good as it is without a score.
Contrast this with Andy locking the door and playing a record over the loudspeaker, despite this meaning all the trust he's garnered with the prison staff is shot out the window. Nothing like opera to be the first music a bunch of inmates get to hear in years. Also, this defiant act is a nice little microcosm for the whole point of the film.
Also, lighting. The lighting in this film is not very subtle, but still integral in portraying the mood. For example, when Andy first arrives at the prison, the screen is heavily desaturated, coming off as gloomy. However, after Andy assists Hadley with the one-time gift bonus money thing in exchange for three beers apiece to his mates, the scene changes to a warmer tone, to symbolize the triumph and moment of freedom.
One more point before moving on to why I love this film and why this film is so important to me, the cinematography. When Andy arrives at the prison, there is a shot as he walks inside that makes the prison tower look intimidating, as if it's consciously sucking away the souls of everyone there. To contrast, the final shot as Andy escapes through a sewer pipe shows the prison in the distance, small and insignificant, a castrated, de-toothed and de-clawed lion cub.
There are many themes in the film, but the main one is hope. There are three characters in the film that demonstrate the consequences of having hope, and of giving it up: Andy, Red and Brooks. Brooks has been at the prison for 60 years and it's the only life he's ever known. When he gets released, he can't cope and he commits suicide, deciding that this new world he's in is too much for him to bear. The film explains this as being "institutionalized" to the way of prison life. In other words, accepting that you're never getting out of Shawshank, so you might as well get used to it. This happens to Red, but it doesn't happen to Andy. Red gets released some time after Andy escapes and it seems he might follow in Brooks' footsteps, but through his relationship with Andy, who never gave up hope, he finds a reason to "get busy living."
Another theme is injustice of the worst kind, being convicted of a murder you didn't commit. Andy suffers this and gets life in Shawshank. However, the reality of the prison never gets to him. Right from the moment Red gets him a rock hammer, he starts his escape, hiding the hammer in a bible and digging a hole concealed by a poster of Raquel Welch....
Andy my man, you have good taste. Anyway, the point is that Andy never resigns himself to life as a convict and decides he wants out. Andy is a bastion of patience, ingenuity, planning ahead and never giving up. And in the end, his triumph over the injustice is gratifying.
What makes shawshank great is how relevant it is and how it can be applied to almost anything. The prison itself represents a hardship, while Andy represents a person enduring that hardship. But instead of succumbing and giving up, Andy fights through it and wins, even against the insurmountable odds facing him.
I suffer from Aspergers Syndrome, and that is my Shawshank prison. Very often I feel as though it get's harder and harder to fit in. I used to be bullied all the time, I've even considered suicide at a younger age. But I am Andy DuFrense, and Aspergers will not make me give up. I can beat it. If being an able member of society is a shitty pipe dream, then I will crawl through a shitty pipe. Why? Because I can. Because I will not resign myself to living with the fact that once upon a time, people refused to associate with me on account of my eccentricity (it's not so bad these days since Aspergers is becoming understood).
Andy is a symbol of the unbreakable human spirit and a reminder to press on even when the light at the end of the tunnel is not visible yet. The story of Andy DuFresne is one of triumph and one that really needs to be told more often. So, if you read this and have your own Shawshank prison (be it a disability, a financial struggle, anything that's holding you back and bringing you down), watch this film and be reminded that hope is a good thing. Make up your mind about whether or not you want to get busy living, or get busy dying.
EDIT:
Clearly, I have failed to convey the true awesomeness of shawshank and why it's the best film ever. As a film, it's on par with the other "best films of all time," but what sets it apart is the socially relevant, inspirational theme that has literally saved lives. If you have not seen shawshank, you are to go straight to blockbuster or netflix and watch it as soon as possible. Right now.
And if you have seen it, then you know what I mean.
Other reasons to see this film in case this humble recommendation wasn't enough:
* Morgan Freeman
* Stunning Architecture
* Prison Break
* Excellent Score (music)
* Morgan Freeman
* Morgan Freeman swearing
* A Library
* Morgan Freeman narration
* Narrator Morgan Freeman searing
* Morgan Freeman working in a library
* Morgan Freeman as a crook
* Great Jokes
* Morgan Freeman
* Morgan Freeman making great jokes
Ok, yeah, I like Morgan Freeman.
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