The Green Mile (1999) Movie Review

According to Paul Edgecomb, the head of Death Row at a Louisiana penitentiary during the Great Depression, the place is similar to an intensive care ward in a hospital. Paul, played by Tom Hanks, is kinder than most guards and his team is skilled and humane, except for Percy, a cruel and ignorant guard whose aunt is married to the governor. One day, a new inmate arrives: a large black man named John Coffey, who has been convicted of molesting and murdering two young white girls. However, he is not what he seems; he is afraid of the dark and shakes Paul's hand straightforwardly as if he has nothing to hide.

The film, called "The Green Mile" after the prison's green floor, is based on a novel by Stephen King and directed by Frank Darabont, who previously directed "The Shawshank Redemption." Both films focus on relationships between white and black men. In "The Shawshank Redemption," the black man is a witness to the white man's tenacity, while in "The Green Mile," the black man's role is to bear the pain of the whites, forgive them, and offer redemption. The film's central relationship is between Paul and John, and without revealing the supernatural mechanism involved, John explains that he "just took the suffering back" and uses it to perform a remarkable feat.

The film's pace is unhurried, with the first hour devoted to creating relationships between the prisoners and staff. Some scenes involve the grisly details of the death chamber and one particular execution is detailed and gruesome, earning the film an R rating despite its benevolent tone. The mouse that Delacroix adopts, a violent confrontation with Wharton, and the subplots involving Paul's and the warden's wives are all moving sequences. The film's ending draws a parallel with an execution that occurred 2,000 years ago.

Good acting in movies is a combination of good casting and the creation of characters that elicit a strong response from the audience. Tom Hanks embodies the character of Paul effectively, with level eyes and a calm and decent voice. The film depicts Paul's efficient staff and the prisoners, including a quirky man named Delacroix and a taunting monster named Wharton. Michael Clarke Duncan's portrayal of John Coffey, who exudes goodness despite the evidence against him, is particularly impressive. While the fairness and hospitality of a Louisiana Death Row in the 1930s to a convicted child molester might be questionable, the story is convincing, and the film is emotionally compelling.

"The Green Mile" is an ambitious and emotionally powerful film that tackles difficult themes of justice, morality, and redemption. It asks big questions about the nature of good and evil, and the role of suffering in the human experience. Through the relationship between Paul and John, the film explores the transformative power of empathy and compassion, and the possibility of forgiveness in the face of unspeakable cruelty. It is a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll, and it is a testament to the enduring power of cinema to move and inspire us.

The film's central performance, however, comes from Michael Clarke Duncan as John Coffey. It's a tricky role that could have been overplayed or reduced to a stereotype, but Duncan handles it with grace and nuance. He gives Coffey a gentle and childlike quality, but also a deep well of sadness and pain that is palpable. The character is a powerful symbol of empathy and forgiveness, and Duncan's performance is one of the film's strongest assets.

Frank Darabont's direction is also noteworthy, as he balances the film's supernatural elements with its realistic depiction of life on Death Row. The film has a deliberate pace, which allows the characters and their relationships to develop in a natural way. Darabont also makes effective use of visual metaphors, such as the recurring image of a tiny flowering plant that Delacroix cares for, which serves as a symbol of hope and resilience in the midst of death and despair.

Overall, "The Green Mile" is a moving and thought-provoking film that explores weighty themes of justice, redemption, and the human capacity for cruelty and kindness. It's a testament to the power of storytelling, and the ability of cinema to elicit deep emotions and provoke meaningful reflection. If you haven't seen it yet, it's definitely worth a watch.