The film is an adaptation of a Stephen King prison story and comes from the director of the excellent Shawshank Redemption (Frank Darabont). This taken into account the Green mile promised to be an unmissable and memorable movie my only regret is that I turned down the chance to see it at the cinema.
The basic story centres around the events on the green mile, this would be a good time to explain that this is the name given to death row. Tom Hanks is Paul Edgecomb, he is in charge of this section of the Louisiana prison, and the setting makes a very good purgatory. We are taken back to the 1930’s, where in the southern states the black community are treated degradingly and with no respect (we all know the history of the era so I aint going into that)
John Coffey, like the drink but spelt differently, is a huge black man (I would be inclined to call him a giant and it’s rather amusing when he is first introduced as he is at the side of one of the smallest members of the cast. Michael Clarke Duncan is the slow and loveable John who is on the green mile because he has been convicted of the rape and murder of two white sisters. The initial odd thing about Mr Coffey is that he hardly fits the characteristics of a killer, never mind one capable of such an horrific crime, he his very timid and scared, so much so that we learn he is afraid of the dark.
As the film progresses we become aware of the fact that Coffey is not what he seams and there is something special about the gentle giant, this is confirmed when Coffey ‘helps’ Edgecomb, he cures a urinary infection which we learnt of early in the movie. This is the first time that there is any hint of Coffey being ‘special’, other than just having special needs as he is the typical black man of the time, illiterate and heart warningly slow.
The story is that of Coffey and his unexplained abilities, yet the movie does go off on a tangent and explains more to us than I think we needed to know. The film goes on for just over 3 hours and although I enjoyed every minute of it I feel it would have benefited from a little more editing, there are quite a lot of tedious scenes that seem unnecessary and/or procrastinate a little. However it does all come together in the end and everything interlocks, but the movie was a little slow in getting going.
Now for the gruesome bits, (though that’d get your attention) there are three rather elaborate scenes involving the electric chair, my initial thoughts were how bad can they be? Not being easily shocked I settled down for some timid scenes, however I was surprised by one horrific execution which sees the poor condemned man not only being but to his death but in a disturbing manner, lets just say the execution goes a little wrong and instead of frying lightly he burns up… The film doesn’t go for over the top blood and guts, instead it relies on unnerving the audience and leaving you almost disturbed, far better than the average horror scenes.
The prison guards, other than Edgecomb, play a vital role in the film. There are four of them each with a different appeal but draw you into the movie further and you develop a feeling towards them.
“Brutal” Brutus Howell – played by David Morse he is one of the characters we come to like and associate with. We become aware of the fact that although he is named brutal and is on the big side, only second to Coffey, he is real a timid character, although can look after himself and his fellow guards. It is obvious that he cares about the prisoners despite their crimes and them being sentenced to death. A likeable character with more depth then we first give him credit for.
Percy Wetmore – Doug Hutchison, if he looks familiar then the x-files episode with Eugene Victor Toomes springs to mind, it drove me mind trying to remember where I knew his face from!! Every film needs a character that the audience hates and this is no exception, Percy is a funny little character and I don’t think anybody could like him. He becomes more twisted as the film progresses, but with all good tales the baddies get their comeuppance, Percy being no exception, thankfully!
Dean Stanton – Barry Pepper gives a great performance as the young guard who seems a little out of his depth on the mile, unfortunately his character is not developed fully and we learn very little about him except that he has a young family.
Harry Terwilliger – Jeffery DeMunn he is the oldest of the guards and as with Stanton has an unexplored charcter.
James Cromwell and Patricia Clarkson play the warden and his sick wife, her cancer is like a volcano that will erupt by the end of the film.
And of course I could not mention Mr Jingles, he’s a mouse. The little chap is befriended by the prisoners and guards but unfortunately spoils the film as too much focus is on the mouse, it deflects a little from the humans, who I suppose we are supposed to care about more.
This is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time, despite it’s few flaws and the fact that it was a little too long and lacked constancy. It will plummet you into a world of magic and miracles, we do not know if Coffey is a magician or one of god’s workers and we are never told which leaves it open to your own interpretation. What ever your view there is no mistaking that Fact that John Coffey has magic in him.
You will no doubt be engrossed in the film as it has the ability to draw you in, I defy you not to be moved as the film draws to a close and I wouldn’t be surprised if there aren’t a few tears rolling down your face when Coffey is executed. Brilliant acting and one of the best movies I have seen in a hell of a long time, definitely not to be missed!