Greetings, my fellow cinephiles of Winchester!

Determination and strength are much needed in this world as an adult.

Every day we wake up renewed or in despair as to what obstacles, choices and compromises we will encounter in the new day.

A negative mindset will make some dread getting out of bed after the alarm beckons you to another day like you are being marched off to the gallows.

If you have a constant state of negative thoughts, you affect all you encounter, deteriorate your health, and no offense, are not to fun of a person to be around.

A positive mindset day in and day out is a conscious choice. It is a skill that must be consistently honed so it is effective later becoming a learned behavior.

A positive mindset is a must have to continually progress personally and professionally.

Wisdom comes from a positive mindset. Each obstacle is looked at as an opportunity for improvement rather than a tragedy full of doom and gloom.

With becoming positive, and staying that way, wisdom is born which breeds its cousin of patience.

Today’s feature is a tale of great patience, determination and stoic wisdom which is a must if our characters are to survive in “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994)

Welcome to Shawshank! Shawshank is a Maine prison during the 1940s where men go to waste away behind fortress-like walls, cold bars and live with the regrets of crimes they were found guilty of committing in their younger days. Recently convicted banker Andy, Tim “Jacob’s Ladder” Robbins, is fresh meat at Shawshank to serve his time of two consecutive life sentences for murdering his wife and her lover.

Though Andy may look like a lost babe in the woods to all the other inmates, it doesn’t take long for repeat failed parolee, Red, Morgan “Se7en” Freeman, to take a liking to this new peculiar inmate.

Andy runs into trouble with the guards, prison cliques and the warden at times but shows great determination.

No matter how many times he is beat down or told no, he spreads his wings a bit as he seeks normalcy in an abnormal environment, he stays determined with positivity in his posture and hope in his heart.

Andy has nothing but time and he makes the most of it and uses his talents and unique perspective to enrich the lives of his fellow inmates, teach the prison population what it means to be civil and the life lesson of never count out the underdog no matter what the circumstance.

“Shawshank” was based on the 1982 Stephen King novella, “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.”

Directed by Frank “The Walking Dead” Darabont, “Shawshank” was popular among critics upon its release but was overlooked in 1994 because of its competitors in the cinema being “Pulp Fiction” and “Forrest Gump.”

“Shawshank” has gained popularity among viewers through home video and cable and has gone on to become lauded as one of the greatest American films. The Library of Congress selected it to be preserved in the National Film Registry for it cultural and historical significance.

If you are a newbie to “Shawshank,” this a film that must be seen. If you are not, it is a film that can be seen multiple times without becoming a bore or make you feel like you are serving hard time until its conclusion.

“The Shawshank Redemption” will be presented by Fathom Events and includes exclusive insight from Turner Classic Movies in honor of the film’s 25th anniversary.

Show times are 4 p.m. Sunday and 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at the Regal in Hamburg and Cinemark Cinemas at Fayette Mall and Richmond.

Have a positive film-tastic day! 

Rick Baldwin is a writer, filmmaker and film/music historian. He is president of the Winchester-Clark County Film Society. Find more from Rick on Facebook. He is on Twitter @rickbaldwin79  and can be reached by email at rickbaldwiniii@hotmail.com.