Hi. I'm 24 from South East England. I'm a big video game and computer fan, but like to throw in a bi...
Hi. I'm 24 from South East England. I'm a big video game and computer fan, but like to throw in a bit of reading and music to keep my brain alive, and fitness and outdoor activities to keep my heart from turning to goo and my skin to cellophane :)
Member since:02.11.2004
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The Green Mile 1999 (18) Director: Frank Darabont
I grew up with Stephen King - well, not literally of course because he lives miles away and the age difference is insurmountable - but with his books. I’ve been a long time lover of his writing, as my groaning bookcase will testify, but a long time hater of the movies that his books have spawned.
The reason behind this is quite simple: lazy, careless productions. In putting King’s books on screen, hatchet jobs have been done on the story, hacking out all the humanity and feeling and leaving the dismembered remains of so much pulp horror.
It is only recently that film makers have stopped automatically assigning King to the world of bargain-basement hack ‘n’ slash and paid proper attention to his work with Frank Darabont’s now legendary Shawshank Redemption, and it is in Darabont’s hands that The Green Mile continues
this trend.
The Green Mile was originally released as a serial with six instalments. Already split down this way, each containing enough plot development and a suitable cliff-hanger to make you rush out and buy the next, the story was ideally suited for film adaptation with well timed pacing easily drawing you through the film’s three-plus hours.
Set in the 1930’s, the story centres around Paul Edgecombe (Tom Hanks) and the events that take place in a Louisiana state prison while he is a Death-Row guard there. One day, his life and his outlook change for ever with the arrival of one John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan); a giant of a man accused of the brutal rape and murder of two young girls. Edgecombe finds himself strangely fascinated and drawn to this man who, despite of his size and the brutality of his crime, is afraid of the dark.
We follow Edgecombe and his fellow guards through life at the prison, the execution of some of the other inmates and Edgecombe’s urinary infection. When remorseless killer ‘Wild Bill’ Wheaton (Sam Rockwell) arrives on the wing and manages to land Edgecombe a kick to the crotch during a struggle, aggravating his infection, Coffey grabs hold of Paul and - rather than strangle him through the bars as everybody feared - cures the infection, spitting out a huge cloud of black flies. It is from this point on that Edgecombe and his colleagues learn of Coffey’s real nature in the most moving and poignant way.
If ever a movie could be said to have been perfectly cast, this is it. Tom Hanks proves once again that he can turn his hand to anything and is utterly convincing as he becomes Paul Edgecombe, an ordinary man tested by the up-close cycle of life and death over which he presides. David Morse excels as his loyal friend Brutus Howell and Doug Hutchinson flawlessly portrays the twisted, sadistic guard Percy Wetmore whose delight in torment and execution starkly balance Edgecombe’s own softer approach to dealing with the condemned men, especially his delight over the bungled execution of Eduard Delacroix, an old man whose attachment to his pet mouse Mr Jingles becomes a powerful symbol through the film. Michael Clarke Duncan delivers a powerful performance as John Coffey and portrays a deep, vulnerable character without ever over-acting the part or patronising the audience. There is not one character in the film who is not totally developed and totally believable.
A few very minor points aside this adaptation remains utterly faithful to the book and, much to Darabont’s credit, does not cash in on quick and easy shocks from the electrocution scenes - something that would have cheapened and devalued the movie.
The ending is unexpected and beautifully crafted and will bring a tear to anybody’s eye, but to say any more would be to ruin it for the two people who haven’t seen the movie yet.
The Green Mile achieves all that it sets out to - it tells the bittersweet story of human hope and suffering and, most importantly, makes an impression on the viewer for a long time after it has finished. This is certainly one of the most skilfully wrought, must-see movies of recent years.
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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: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
"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...
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]")
Nov 8th, 2004
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