"The Shawshank Redemption", based on a Stephen King novella, is a film about how prison life affects one resourceful, young inmate. It's a superior adult drama, but one laden with the typical vestiges of prison films: namely rampant profanity and brutal violence. Although this consideration may weigh into whether or not someone may want to see the film, it isn't this which robs the film of greatness. That distinction goes to a much too long wrap-up sequence in which the film's meticulously developed sober tone is jettisoned in favor of a contrived, feel good demeanor.
Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), is the story's focal point as a man sentenced to life imprisonment for a pair of murders he didn't commit. Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding (Morgan Freeman), a fellow prisoner and the narrator of the story, is also in for the long haul with little chance of parole. Meeting the challenge of prison life with a positive attitude, Andy sets about creating a livable environment in his cell, and winning the respect of the prison guards. Former a banker, Andy is able to accomplish the latter by offer financial advice to and preparing income tax statements for the guards.
Warden Norton (Bob Gunton), especially, takes a shine to Andy and soon has him working on a lucrative, if not entirely legal, financial strategy that will ensure the warden a generous retirement. Of course, as we come to see later, Andy is not merely a stooge for the warden and his goons. A smart man, he is constantly working towards his ultimate goal of being released from prison. He methods win him many friends and admirers in prison, but it is the friendship of "Red" that he values the most.
Although somewhat undermined by its typically overwritten King ending, "The Shawshank Redemption" makes for powerful drama. It's definitely not for kids, though, because it features language that would make a sailor blush and some rather graphic scenes of base behavior. But expect to hear about this one again at Oscar time, with justifiable attention paid to Morgan Freeman's marvelously understated performance.