The Hunt for the Best Movie of All Time: The Shawshank Redemption

Lion

In this ongoing segment, Lion will make a case for a certain film being "the best movie of all time." This is a direct rip-off of Videogum's "The Hunt for the Worst Movie of All Time," which features both better/funnier writing and more readers. Each movie will be given a fair shot at glory. There WILL be spoilers. If you have any recommendations, please post in the comments. Most movies will be what are generally considered "critically-acclaimed."


I know I know. Shawshank is number one on the IMDB top 250, which is basically textual pornography for film-lovers. But it's a good kickoff film to feature in this segment. It's a recognizable movie that has managed to cross over its success into my generation. (the Call of Duty-playing generation where everything's amazing and nobody's happy )

The Shawshank Redemption follows the story of Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a man who is arrested for murdering his wife and her lover based on circumstantial evidence. Andy is sent to Shawshank prison, which is basically a haven for sodomizers who like to shank people (ironically). Andy befriends a wise black man (probably the best of all stereotypical movie characters) named "Red" (Morgan Freeman). Andy learns of Red's ability to smuggle items into Shawshank, and requests a rock hammer. (That should have no significance later, right??) Eventually, the guards at Shawshank realize Andy's one smart cookie. Andy ends up giving financial advice to most of the guards and workers at Shawshank, and is given responsibility of keeping Shawshank's financial accounts in balance. Along the way, he makes friends with many of his inmates and enemies with others (particularly those who butt rape him frequently.)

Red and Andy end up becoming good friends, having some deep discussions about life inside and outside of prison. Andy is revealed to be innocent (via the confession of some crazy dude), but the warden refuses to grant Andy his chance at being released. After a series of crazy events (which are sort of irrelevant in this case), Andy is one day absent at roll call and is found to have escaped from prison (using the rock hammer to create a long ass tunnel in his cell.) Fast forward: Andy goes to paradise, the warden of Shawshank blows his head off (due to Andy exposing financial scams in Shawshank), Red is released on parole, and Andy and Red meet again on a beautiful beach in paradise.

(I promise the film is better than my summary.)

The case for Shawshank really doesn't lie in its plot. There are some excellent plot twists and "holy shit" parts, but the strength of Shawshank lies in its themes. In particular, the theme of hope. This theme led to quite possibly the best "bromance" in the history of filmmaking.

The term "bromance" is used a lot these days, mostly mockingly, but it actually has meaning. Participating in a bromance is a completely heterosexual experience. Why can't two dudes have love for each other with out broke-backing shit up? The scene where Red and Andy reunite on the beach is one of the most emotional scenes captured on screen in the history of film. I cried the first time I saw it. I cried like my dog was ran over by the ice cream truck.

To be without hope is a scary experience. Andy and Red were close to hopelessness, but they relied on each other to maintain strength and perseverance through tough times.

Which leads me to my favorite part of this movie: How fudging awesome is Morgan Freeman? He has the whole "I'm an old black man that is full of wisdom and knowledge" shit down PERFECTLY. Not to mention the dude doesn't age. He looks exactly the same in The Dark Knight as he does in Shawshank. He's one of the most underrated actors of our generation, and if I was a single black woman I would have a crush on Morgan Freeman over Denzel Washington (yeah I said it girrrrl.) And I am not particularly fond of Tim Robbins in other films, but he knocked it out of the ballpark in this one. He has a quiet confidence about him as Andy and he never makes you dislike him even though he is convicted of murdering his wife.

So is Shawshank deserving of its numero uno on the IMDB list? Maybe, maybe not. It's certainly one of the best films of all time. I highly recommend this film, but maybe watch it alone. (watching it with a good friend may lead to some awkward bromance like conversations afterward, and I don't want anyone contacting me claiming to have a homosexual experience from the emotions brought about by Andy and Red's bromantic displays of awesomeness.)

Next time on The Hunt for the Best Movie of All Time: Fight Club.

Feel free to post your opinions in the comments as well as recommendations for other movies to include in the hunt.