Top Ten Greatest Films of All Time: #7

Perhaps the most universally loved film on my list, The Shawshank Redemption comes in at number seven. Frank Darabont’s 1994 movie is based off the short story by Stephen King that details the story of an accountant that is wrongly accused and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Tim Robbins performance as Andy Dufresne could be my favorite in the history of cinema and it was a crime that he did not receive even a nomination from the Academy. Shawshank was nominated for seven Oscar’s but sadly did not win any due to it being overshadowed by Forrest Gump and Pulp Fiction. 

Morgan Freeman garnered a nomination for his performance as Red, a fellow prisoner and close friend of Andy’s. The other inmates and Bob Gunton as the ruthless warden of Shawshank carry the film with amazing performances all around. Many argue that it is the greatest performance by a cast in cinema. I would put it in my top three, behind two films that will appear later on my list.

Unfortunately, aside from the amazing story line and phenomenal performances, there’s not much else going for Shawshank. Darabont’s directing skills are pedestrian at best, his only other success coming from The Green Mile five years later. The movie was in no way visually stunning and at some points can seem pretty dry and tedious.

However, the majority of the film tells the greatest feel good story ever written. Through the horrors and tribulations presented by prison life, Andy Dufresne’s story will put a lump in your throat guaranteed after the first viewing.

Despite it’s many flaws and the other great films that overshadowed it, The Shawshank Redemption pushes through the criticisms with powerful scenes that will send you on an emotional roller coaster and be etched in your mind permanently. Shawshank is finally respected for the great movie that it is, some even arguing that it was the best film of 1994, the greatest year in cinema’s history (in my opinion, it’s a strong number two).

Check in next Friday to see the number six film on my list, another under-appreciated 90’s masterpiece.