The Green Mile
An inmate on death row has supernatural powers that capture the attention of prison guards.
Frank Darabont really seems to fancy the idea of adapting Stephen King novels. First there was The Shawshank Redemption, and most recently, The Mist. But wedged in between is The Green Mile, another period prison film that, this time around, focuses on the guards more so than its criminal inhabitants.
The Green Mile unravels its magical bag of tricks as we follow a herd of prison guards, led by Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks), as they interact with a giant of an inmate, John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), who has the celestial power of faith healing. Coffey is on death row awaiting execution under the charge of child murder and rape, but as Edgecomb and the guards witness his God given abilities, they realize there’s more than meets the eye.
The acting is impeccable as the already great Hanks is surrounded by the strong support of David Morse, James Cromwell, Sam Rockwell and more. With a three hour runtime, the ensemble’s interplay with one another, coupled with the supernatural power of miracles that Coffey performs, makes this movie fly by in a flash. There are some touching and fine moments that are quite memorable, as the imprint of realism is consistent, that create the emotional arch. The story provides an accurate and realistic social commentary on race in the south that allows us to sympathize with Coffey.
By no means is The Green Mile at the level of Darabont’s earlier The Shawshank Redemption, but it’s a solid rendition of another prison movie. It’s propelled by emotional rewards that touch us, making its faults – if any – seem overlooked. Darabont’s commitment to his craft makes The Green Mile a successful piece of filmmaking that is awe inspiring and a rollercoaster of emotions. Hanks adds to his vast body of work by performing another role to perfection. The Green Mile’s flashback oriented tale is another great adaptation from Darabont of King’s work that takes us on a emotional journey.
Written by: John Berkowitz
Reviewers Rating: 8
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Added: 6-Sep-2008
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