A tremendous story and well done film.

Rating: Null/10 (19 August 2001)

This outstanding work is coterminous with films like `The Longest Yard' and `Cool Hand Luke' in that it touches upon our ambivalence about prison inmates. It is indicative of the dichotomous view that our society has in regard to the penal system when we can clarion lex talions among our fellow citizens yet identify with and cheer on movie criminals in theatres. Quite possibly it is the underlying threat of being immured ourselves, as we realize that it is really a fine line that keeps us free.

Of course it takes more than a play on our hidden fears to produce a film this good. It takes a good script, solid acting and characters that we can give a damn about, all of which are gathered here brilliantly. Above all it takes a good story, and obviously Frank Darabont knew one when he adapted this Stephen King novella into a movie script (you never really can tell what you will end up with when you endeavor to bring one of King's books to the big screen). He also knows how to use a camera to draw us into the prison world and how to exploit the power of narration (assisted nicely by the warm voice and splendid diction of Freeman).

SPOLIER ALERT!!! A truly great movie must have a truly great ending and this film actually has two. They could have ended it right after revealing the circumstances surrounding the escape as Freeman explains that he just misses his friend and it would have been fitting, but they continued and finish with a fabulous moment on the beach as Freeman succinctly explains in a voice over, `I hope'. For those of you who try to say that you could see the end coming a mile away---forget it; sell it to someone who's buying.