Taking a short break from Ciao....will be back ASAP LOL :)
Taking a short break from Ciao....will be back ASAP LOL :)
Member since:02.10.2000
Reviews:101
Members who trust:26
Forgive me if I seem to have posted two ops in one day, It's something I don't particularly like doing, but having just watched this film, I was so gripped with emotion I had to write about it before that feeling dissipates from me.
The film is adapted from a Stephen King novel of the same title, and centres around two main characters with a few others around them to carry the film through its various stages.
A prison officer, Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks' character) who was in charge of block E in a Louisiana State Prison, starts narrating a tale to an lady friend in the elderly home they reside in. He sets off telling her that he used to supervise executions on death row in that prison, known by the name of the Green Mile ( death row, that is ), given that name instead of the usual ' Last Mile ' due to the fact that the floor in that block was lime green in colour.
One day, a man sentenced to death for killing two little girls, is brought to the block. The first thing that strikes everyone is the man's size, known as John Coffey ( just like the drink, but spelt differently - you'll understand if you've watched it, or when you do watch it ), and played by Michael Clarke Duncan (how did he not win an Oscar, I do not know).
The film progresses from then onwards to show the relationship between Hanks' and Duncan's characters developing in a human sense of the word, rather than a prison officer and an inmate. Portrayed as a dramatic piece with some supernatural elements, It glides beautifully through the 3+ hour duration, delving into the true story of John Coffey's real gift to this world ( I'll keep that under wraps ). The film, despite its serious nature, has some comedic moments throughout, scattered at exactly the right moments to add a bit of variety.
It also portrays the characters of other inmates and prison officers, bringing across a range of personalities, ranging from the insane to the kind.
The story unravels as we go along, and I admit I was initially ( just slightly ) disappointed with the script itself in the first part of the film. Having watched the Shawshank Redemption some four times (an absolute favourite of mine), and knowing that The Green Mile comes from the same makers, I expected a similar quiet ferociousness about the picture. I admit now that that was not applicable here, as the stories, despite being both set in a prison, are completely different, and The Mile had to build up to its characters and their individual stories more slowly to get the full effect across ( thus its length ).
Do not watch this if you are squeamish ( 18 certificate) , do not like poignant and thought provoking emotional films. There are some brutish scenes, especially one during an inmate execution, and some strong language too.
Although the film is excellent all through, the last 30 minutes or so were absolutely amazing, I did not have a dry eye all that time ( thankfully I wasn't watching it at the pics ).
You have to pretty fussy not to get something out of this film. I, myself, am certainly glad I finally borrowed that video tape from my friend at work, It was a soul-cleansing experience.
A milestone in cinema.
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"The book was better" has been the complaint of many a reader since the invention of ... more
films.The Green Mileis Frank Darabont's second adaptation of a Stephen King prison dramaThe Shawshank Redemptionwas the first) and is a very faithful adaptation of Kin...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
"The book was better" has been the complaint of many a reader since the invention of ... more
films.The Green Mileis Frank Darabont's second adaptation of a Stephen King prison dramaThe Shawshank Redemptionwas the first) and is a very faithful adaptation of Kin...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) is a slightly cynical veteran prison guard on death row in the ... more
1930's. Hi faith, and sanity, deteriorated by watching men live and die, Edgecomb is about to have a complete turn around in attitude. Enter John Coffey (Oscar nom...
![The Green Mile [DVD] [2000]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78527693.jpg "The Green Mile [DVD] [2000]")
Sep 16th, 2001
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