Unbelievably well crafted, one of the best of the 90's

Rating: 9/10 (4 January 2010)

I hadn't watched this film in its entirety in probably 10 years so I felt it was time for a re-watch. It still holds up as one of my favourite films from the 90's. The very intricate adaptation of King's work is so smartly done by Frank Darabont. You have to pay attention to all the little details in order to make sense of the film at the end. Its no easy task as the movie can move at a snails pace at times, but that's what makes it so great. Its not trying to be flashy, its trying to portray a very realistic view inside a mid 20th century New England prison. You come to feel for every single one of these characters and most importantly understand their motivations. A film like this could have went so badly, but the actors and Darabont seem to make it look effortless. The cast as an ensemble works wonderfully and Morgan Freeman quite possibly gives the best performance of his career.
Its too bad this film was released in a year that saw it competing against Forrest Gump and Pulp Fiction. One of the most underrated films of the last 20 years. If it had been a different year, it could have cleaned up at the Oscar.s I don't know if it deserves to be #1 on IMDb's 250, but it definitely deserves a high spot.
9/10