Cinema at its very best

Rating: 10/10 (5 December 2003)

Once again, a DVD purchase gives me an excuse to write about a film I first saw years ago - and, by happy chance, it's a truly magnificent piece of work.
Stephen King's work, itself uneven in quality, also has a spotty history when transferred to the screen, whether in the form of a movie or a TV drama. Neither version of "The Shining" was very good, while "The Stand" was converted into a TV drama that flowed better than the novel itself, but was unable wholly to overcome or conceal that book's very real flaws.
This film is based on King's short story "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption" - a good story that makes a superb film. It DOES drag somewhat in places, but what else can you expect in a film describing events that stretch over decades, but are confined to a very small physical space? For the rest, the acting is flawless, the music is subtle and appropriate, while the photography and script are both excellent. I particularly liked the characterization and portrayal of relationships - not just the Robbins-Freeman interaction, but also the other characters, even the minor ones, who cross our field of vision as the film progresses.
There are a number of enjoyable high points and thought-provoking low points along the way - not too many, that would destroy the film's main impact - and the conclusion rates as one of the most gratifying I've ever seen in a movie.
In short, unless you demand lots of action of the explosions and chases type, you're going to be enthralled by this one.
Rating: 10/10 - the only film I've seen so far to deserve this rating.