You'd be Obtuse not to Appreciate This Fable

Rating: 9/10 (7 January 2006)

This film, a modern fable, is an amazing success story - not in monetary terms, but in terms of reputation. It began as just another of many dramas, in this case based on a Stephen King story, and has emerged as possibly the best film of the decade, the '90s (#2 of the IMDb top 250 as of this writing, right up there with The Godfather!). The story begins as another prison drama but gradually metamorphoses into a poetic commentary on friendship and the scope of life. The main character (Robbins) is sent to prison in the late forties for supposedly murdering his wife. It really is a men's picture; there are literally no female characters (the wife appears for a few seconds early on in flashback and that's about it, besides a complaining shopper later; oh, and, of course, Rita Hayworth pops in as herself). The film holds many surprises in store for the viewer as the story progresses, not the least of which is the subtle revelation, towards the end, that the main character may just be Freeman's (how appropriate is that name!). If one had to pick one reason for this film's success (and there are probably several), it's that it's probably the best depiction of friendship between men on celluloid - no cutesy buddy-buddy stuff, no homo-erotic connotations - just a solid, adult basis for two men to bond over and remain friends.
But there are many other, I dare say, cool aspects to the film. Most everyone who has seen this has at least two or three favorite scenes which they remember forever and which they watch over and over. My personal favorite is the one on the roof, where Andy (Robbins) makes his bid for a slightly better existence, taking a big risk with the captain of the guards (Clancy Brown, always intimidating). It's a turning point in the picture and shows two important matters recurring through it: taking a risk and using your intelligence. Andy turns out to be very smart; he's always using his head. And the ultimate switchback of the picture, the comeuppance of the evil warden (Bob Gunton, excellent as scum dressed in pricey suits), shows you that a film doesn't need a standard shootout to depict the ultimate justice or retribution. No, if you use your brains, you can really get back at those oppressive forces seeking to dehumanize you, abuse you, and lord over you. Boy, can you get them back. I mean really - has there ever been a bigger turnaround in the history of cinema? OK, maybe this is why this film is rated so high - you just can't get a better release from frustration than this, not on film. Here, payback isn't just a bitch - she's the daughter of Satan sent to take you to hell.
Another thing to mention is that this film covers about 20 years of time. That's a long stretch. The film itself is over 2 hours running time. Most films, even the best ones, with so much to cover, can't help but sag in places, especially historical pieces. But that's not the case here. Writer-director Darabont, who also worked on the even longer "The Green Mile" later, shows us how to create films which are always interesting to watch, whether at the one hour or 2-hour mark. Or am I being obtuse?