Viewed in
2004, 2010
Formats
DVD, HD TV
Premise
Based on the Stephen King short, Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman star as two prisoners who form a friendship that helps them survive their world.
Loved
The story and the acting.
Thoughts
An underrated classic that has so far survived the test of time.
The acting was superb. Robbins and Freeman both gave wonderful subtle performances as stoic and weary on the outside, but exuding all sorts of emotions and intelligence underneath. Even upon multiple viewings, you could discover a new acting wrinkle in any given shot. I just wanted the camera to keep rolling on them, and the cinematography obliged. The rest of the cast was very strong, each with clear motivations and moments. Fans of Highlander should recognize the intimidating Clancy Brown as the lead bully guard. Bob Gunton of 24 was excellent as the shrewd warden.
On paper, one might expect a two and a half hour charater-driven prison drama to be boring. Writer/director Frank Darabont made sure it never happened. The characters were complex and human, with interesting arcs. Robbins' character went through the most, as he used his brains and will to create opportunities and ran with them. The twists were cool yet logical at the same time. Much like a real prison, nothing was on-the-nose nor painted in broad strokes. I enjoyed the subplots, especially the sad, truth about institutionalized convicts. There were many conversations and moments that explored thoughtful themes, such as justice, regret, hope in hopeless situations, and of course, friendship.
Aesthetically, the film was poetic. The film makers achieved this with Freeman's voice over narration and Roger Deakins' camerawork, aurally and visually, respectively. By using internal monologues, the film was able to give wonderful, powerful descriptions and expositions that felt like reading a colorful novel. The dialogue amongst character was also intelligent, organic, and even funny at times. Deakins and Darabont created a wonderfully sad picture of the prison walls. The use of long takes allowed the audience to soak in the performances, and the crawling dolly shots ensured that no shot was stale without distracting the audience of its style.
This was a great film that got better with age, thanks to its nuanced performances and badass story. This came out the same year that Forrest Gump and Pulp Fiction grabbed the headlines. So if you have never seen this film, I highly recommend checking it out.
What I would change
Nothing.
