Dwarfed by the success of Pulp Fiction and Forrest Gump at the time of its release, a near constant rotation on television steadily rose the profile of Frank Darabont’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novella “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption” until, improbably, it’s become one of the most beloved films of the 90s. It’s a film that is endlessly re-watchable, brisk despite its lengthy run-time, and featuring a slew of terrific performances which buoy its slower moments. Darabont, who was best known for writing (enjoyably) schlocky horror films, obviously put everything he had into the production, which is surprisingly confident considering it was his first real theatrical feature. Full of great, memorable moments and images – James Whitmore’s performance is a highlight – Shawshank remains a strikingly optimistic and sincere film. At a time when cynicism was at an all time high, even the borderline sappiness is endearing.