The Green Mile (1999)
Dir: Frank Darabont
It's hard to contemplate that "The Green Mile" was released in cinemas over 16 years ago. However, this is no surprise considering it is still one the greatest films ever made and for a film set in 1935, it is also ironically one that was ahead its time!
It was directed by Frank Darabont and is an on screen adaptation of the Stephen King novel with the same title. Interestingly, Darabont also directed the film The Shawshank Redemption, that was too adapted by another one of Stephen King's novels.
The film begins in modern day America, in a Louisiana care home for the elderly. The main character, Paul Edgecomb is sat with other elderly residents watching the 1935 film "Top Hat", when suddenly, he begins to cry. Paul is consoled by his friend, Elaine and he then tells a story of his younger days when he was a prison officer during the depression for death row inmates on a ward named 'The Green Mile' at Cold Mountain Penitentiary in 1935.
Soon though, John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan) enters the frame. Coffey (like the drink, only not spelt the same), a giant framed black man is the new death row inmate who will walk 'the mile'. He's accused of molesting and murdering two young white girls, but soon it is apparent that there is something not quite clear about Coffey. He is afraid of the dark for one thing and he confidently shakes Edgecomb's hand when he is put in his cell, like a man who has nothing to be ashamed of.
"The Green Mile" has two key themes such as forgiveness and the supernatural. In relation to forgiveness, Edgecomb soon becomes fond of Coffey and truly believes that the seemingly kind and simpleminded giant did not commit such a crime. Edgecomb soon investigates this theory by approaching Coffey's lawyer (Gary Sinise) who agrees with Coffey's mysterious past and that he "dropped out of the sky". Coffey though was found with the young girls dead in his arms and such evidence against a black man in 1930's Louisiana, well let's just say it's a surprise he was given a trial and wasn't hung right there right then.
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| John Coffey watches "Top Hat" in a 1935 cinema |
The story centres around the relationship between Paul and his huge-in-frame prisoner Coffey. The supernatural theme of the film sets up this relationship because Coffey has the ability to heal. He decides to help Paul with his infection. Coffey is then seen for the remainder of the film as a misunderstood presence looming over all other characters.
On further inspection, there is a few reasons why "The Green Mile" was such a successful film and still is today. Firstly, it's because of 'good casting'. Apart from Tom Hanks, all other actors in 1999 were arguably unknown entities, but their roles within the film are brilliantly played and I couldn't imagine any other actor doing a better job. Additionally notification should be applied to the other two main prisoners, the benign Delacroix (Michael Jeter) and his pet mouse, Mr Jingles (pictured below) and the provoking monster, Wharton (Sam Rockwell). Secondly, the film really depicts the harsh reality of working within an environment designed for death and although the majority of the film is one with a benevolent tone, one gruesome scene involving the death of a particular inmate via the electric chair really earns the films '18' rating.
The film is over 3 hours long, but the strong character presence of Tom Hank's Paul guides the audience through a story that develops its characters and reveals their true nature through either redemption, humour, pain or forgiveness.
A film that was made by patience as well as perfection of the photography, editing, great embodiment of acting and emotional music cues. 9.1/10.
A film that was made by patience as well as perfection of the photography, editing, great embodiment of acting and emotional music cues. 9.1/10.
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