It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these ‘Modern Classic’ posts and I figured why not start the new year by finally crossing off The Shawshank Redemption from my must watch list.

I know, I know… how can I write a movie blog or call myself a film fan when I haven’t seen the movie that is widely considered – by fans and critics alike – to be one of the greatest films of all time? Trust me, I get so much stick from my work colleagues that I’m considering putting in a grievance for a toxic work environment! Just kidding, of course.

In all honesty though, I think part of the reason why I have avoided this film for so long is because of that weight of expectation. What if I watch it and I just don’t get the hype? I mean, that’s what happened when I finally watched The Shining for the first time.

But I guess, ultimately, there is only one way to find out… put on my big girl pants, grab the popcorn and settle in.

Despite already knowing how the film ends, I have managed to stay pretty ignorant of the story as a whole which meant that I was able to watch with as fresh a perspective as one could wish to have for a film that is almost 30 years old.

For those that don’t know, or those who want to pretend that they are experiencing it for the first time, The Shawshank Redemption is told through the eyes of Ellis ‘Red’ Redding, a respected and resourceful inmate twenty years into a life sentence at Shawshank prison with many denied parole hearings already under his belt, and tells the story of his friendship with new inmate Andy Dufresne, serving two life sentences for the murder of his wife and her lover.

As the years and decades pass, Red reflects on the impact that the quiet banker has on his life, and the lives of those around him, whether it’s helping the guards fill out their tax returns, building a new library or providing fleeting experiences of ‘freedom’ such as enjoying a cold beer after a hard morning’s work. It is their friendship, and Dufresne’s faith in the power of hope that allows each of them to find redemption in their own way, and on their own terms.

The Shawshank Redemption is not a prison movie. It is a film about hope, friendship and freedom. Does it deserve its place in infamy? Absolutely, it does. I am happy to report that I now understand the hype, this is a film that has stood the test of time and will continue to do so for many years to come.

Reading the IMDb trivia as the credits roll, something I do after every film, it was interesting to see how many different actors were considered for the roles of both Andy and Red. Even after just the one watch, it is hard to imagine anybody else in those roles and intriguing to think whether the film would have had the same lasting impact thirty years later if they had gone down a different route cast-wise.

Tim Robbins delivers a quietly tempered yet impactful performance, perfectly embodying the quiet persona of Andy Dufresne and saying just as much – if not more – with his body language and facial expressions as he does with his words. Other compelling performances from the likes of William Sadler, Clancy Brown, Bob Gunton and James Whitmore bring the film’s themes to life; offering moments of tension, humour or heartache where you least expect it.

As good as the cast were though, this is Morgan Freeman’s film and he has the Oscar nomination to prove it. His instantly recognizable voice weaves the tale for the audience, his narration adding a richness to prison life and the community the inmates have managed to carve out for themselves. We root for him even when the idea of hope seems too far gone and we celebrate his journey to redemption from the first time we see him on screen to the very last frame.

With the great Roger Deakins in charge of photography, this was always going to be a visually appealing film but I didn’t know that this was the film that gave him his first Oscar nomination and I think I’ll need to watch it again to truly appreciate his vision. Which I think is testimony to the strength of the story and its delivery, that the way it looked became almost an afterthought for me rather than the thing that I usually appreciate first.

Frank Darabont’s script, adapted from Stephen King’s novella Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, is a masterclass of screenwriting. The two and a half hour runtime is mostly dialogue, there is no gratuitous violence, big set pieces or explosions to keep our attention, yet we find ourselves riveted anyway. Darabont manages to deliver – in his feature length directorial debut, no less – something simple yet incredibly complex and with great depth.

I am certain that I will watch this film again and I am certain that I will find or experience something new. That is why The Shawshank Redemption is quite rightly considered one of the greatest films of all time, and why everyone at work will say “I told you so”.