Classic Revisited - The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Whats it about:
It traces the life of jail inmates at The Shawshank prison, New England.
        Andy is a banker who comes into the jail for a crime he hasn't committed. He starts developing the prison library and also is a tax expert for the warden and all the jailers. Red is a long timer at the jail who has the knack of getting things that jail inmates need. Red's parole keeps on getting rejected. Tommy comes in at a later point. He is a young punk. Brooks, the library in-charge is the longest surviving inmate with over 50 yrs of jail time.
        Many more such characters. Add to this, a cold blooded corrupt warden who keeps earning illegal money.
        Finally, after a terrific painstaking escape act by Andy and a successful parole for Red, Andy and Red get close to each other and form a life long bond. Andy has everything perfectly planned out, he exposes the dirty prison activities, gets his money and welcomes his friend with lot of hope ...
                                                                 
Hits

• Such beautiful dialogs which give so much hope
• Tim Robbins dazzles. Egs: his look at his prison friends enjoying beer, the scene where he plays out Mozart to the entire prison through the loudspeaker, when he talks with so much hope about Zihuatanejo to Red just before his escape, his relief at finally escaping .... Many many more
• Morgan Freeman proves his legacy again. His base voice, his walk, his grace and his expressions during his repeated parole rejections are pure class.
• The characterization of Brooks, the long timer. His bonding with the jail, his crow Jake, his struggles in the outer world and his final letter revealing his decision to end his life sure leave a lump in the throat.
• Tommy the young punk. His attempts to clear his high school exam in the jail and his sorry killing for supporting Andy, make a major impact.
• Sweet, simple BGM by Thomas Newman that haunts at places
• There hasn't been a more intricate and detailed portrayal of jail life in the movies. The way 'new fish' are ragged verbally by the old timers and how they struggle to get used to the first night at the jail, are brutally frankly portrayed. 

VERDICT

Deserves all the top places it has in all the ratings. A movie that emphasizes hope, the joy of living, belief, friendship and all other positive emotions ... A ROYAL SALUTE