Since I have been covering a few Stephen King movies I may as well go ahead and look at one of the best ones. Is it just a coincidence that some of the better movies that are based on King novels actually are not horror movies? I'm not suggesting that all the horror ones are bad because that is not the case (think the Shining,) but this and Shawshank Redemption certainly have to be considered some of the best and a lot of the horror ones are pretty bad (think Maximum Overdrive.)
It is kind of important to go into this film not knowing anything about the twist, so I will do my best to not spoil it. The film starts with Paul Edgecomb (who is later played by Tom Hanks in the flashbacks that is most of the film) in a nursing home suddenly being overcome with grief during a film and then regaling a fellow patient with why it is that he has suddenly become so sad. He begins to tell about his days as a death row corrections officer and about the arrival of one particularly unusual convict, John Coffey.
Coffey is a giant of a man, which is evidenced by the suspension of the truck barely being able to support his weight. He also has childlike qualities such as being afraid of the dark and also thunderstorms. He is extremely gentle and very polite - which doesn't make much sense for a person on death row for rape and murder.
Anyway, I am not going to say any more than that because I don't want to give away the film. Let's just say that Michael Clarke Duncan did a fantastic job playing Coffey and the filming of "The Green Mile" must have been a bit difficult because he isn't nearly as tall in real life as he is portrayed in the film. Sets had to be designed to have a hidden raised platform any time he was in the scene.
Tom Hanks is great in this, Doug Hutchison (Percy) is great in this, Sam Rockwell is great in this... you know what, everyone is fantastic in this film and it was cast just perfectly. You will get emotional during this movie. It is extremely well told. It was nominated for a bunch of Academy awards but didn't win any of them. There must have been some stiff competition that year.
If you don't like this movie there is something wrong with you.
9 / 10
