A Masterpiece A Masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (9 June 1999)

This is a rare kind of movie. A movie about the development of a friendship under the hardest conditions.
Being a huge fan of Stephen King's original novella, and considering past attempts to make his stories into movies, I was very sceptical when entering the theatre. But I have never seen an adaptation of his work which moved me in the way this one did. Director Darabont even get away with turning Red into an African American. Actually I think the movie is superior to the written version.
The main reason for this movie's strength is the two leading characters, brilliantly brought to life by Tim Robbins, (should have been Academy Award winner) Morgan Freeman. Together with the director they make this into a universal story and the American movie of the decade.
The only drawback is the ending. In my opinion it should have ended with Red getting on the bus. In that way each of us could create the ending we preferred. Most of us would have chosen the same one as the director but as it is presented I think it is a bit over the top. And that is sad for a movie of this kind.
Still, if I had to go to a deserted island bringing only one American movie from the nineties this would be it.