Before completing the all-time Ady movie top five in the world ever - and in so doing, drawing the latest subject of the 'month' to a close - some honourable mentions of movies that almost made it....
Lean On Me - Morgan Freeman as headmaster; 'you know what that guy is saying right now? "that black person can't throw me out!" You know WHERE he's saying it? In the parking lot!!"
Return To Me - David Duchovney (spelling?!) in an unlikely story of romance.
"Would you go out with me?"
"Yes"
"Tomorrow night?"
"Yes"
"Pick you up around 8 o'clock?"
"Yes"
"Wow, you're a very difficult woman!"
Christmas Movies - I decided not to include these in the top five; firstly as it feels weird to have seasonal films on the list, and secondly because if I had to include them picking a top five would have put me in therapy (my blog, my rules; so there!). Fret not though, you won't miss out, as guess what the subject of the month is going to be this CHRISTMAS.......!!
Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.......
I should imagine The Shawshank Redemption will make it into the top films list of most people. Just like the four other movies in the top five; it is a story of struggle, of misfortune, of friendship, but above all it is a story of and about hope.
Set predominantly in a prison which we are told 'is no fairytale world', Andy Dufresne - a convicted murderer, sentenced to incarceration for the rest of his days - meets Red, an old man who has lived longer behind prison walls as he has outside them. There are so many stories - and stories within stories - during its two-plus hours (the warden, the library, Brookes, Zihuatanejo!......); all fantastic, but the relationship between the two main characters is what sucks me in. A man who has every reason to give up, yet finds that place in his soul that springs eternal - the hope that noone can touch - pitted against a man whom not only has hope long ago deserted; actually believes that 'hope is a dangerous thing; hope can drive a man insane'.
It's what we say isn't it? "Dare to hope". Do we dare? Do we recognise the possibility of something so good happening? Do we give that thought weight? Do we commit ourselves to it? Or do we shrink from it for fear of the misery should these dreams not come true? I believe most of us start off in the world with hope; lots of it, and it is such a shame that people - through cuts and bruises (metaphorical and literal), misfortune, struggle - start (as did Red) believing hope is to be avoided; a negative emotion.
If a movie is to get into the Ady charts (alright? not 'arf!) it cannot just be 'that's a good movie'; it has to speak to me, resonate with me; even teach me. The Shawshank Redemption is no exception. I'm with Andy (not the murdering part you understand.....mind you.....!!) when he says 'hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things; and no good thing ever dies'. It is a beautiful sentiment; one to live by.
I have had my knocks in the past. I have dared and succeeded, and yes I have certainly dared and failed (sometimes devastatingly so); but I am proud to say that my hope is very much intact. My life, my actions, my outlook on life is one of optimism and growth (albeit not in the waistline!), and I am all the better for it. I hope there will always be a part of me untouched by the negativity that life can bring, and I hope I will always look towards the future with...........hope!
So who wins? The hopeful or the hopeless? See it - if you haven't already - and find out for yourself!
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