Wonderful

Rating: 8/10 (13 April 2002)

While a successful writer, Stephen King has a bad reputation when it comes to the film versions of his work. "Children of the Corn" and "Maximum Overdrive" are some of the most frequently cited examples of how difficult his stories are to translate to film. Granted, there have been exceptions, such as "Misery" and "The Green Mile," that have won critical and commercial acclaim, but these are relatively few and far in-between. As a rule, his non-horror writings tend to work better on celluloid. Still, no one, not even King himself, could have predicted the overwhelming praise bestowed upon "The Shawshank Redemption," helmed by a then-unknown director.
If you're looking for cheap thrills and "boo" moments, you won't find them here. Unlike Darabont's "Green Mile," there are not even any elements of the supernatural. The focus is on the relationship between a man wrongfully imprisoned, and the inmate he befriends. In later scenes, the story takes some intriguing twists and turns, in classic Stephen King fashion. What happens I will not reveal, but the screenplay is clever at making everything come together in the end. Despite the grimness of prison life, all is not lost. In fact, one marvels at how Andy did such a good job in making the best of his situation.
Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman deliver subtle but effective performances, making everything absolutely believable. Kudos, also, to the fine supporting performances of Bob Gunton and William Sadler.
So far, this is the best Stephen King film I've seen.
***1/2 (out of ****)
Released by Castle Rock through Columbia Pictures