The Green Mile (1999)
8.507 /10
19272 Reviews
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A supernatural tale set on death row in a Southern prison, where gentle giant John Coffey possesses the mysterious power to heal people's ailments. When the cell block's head guard, Paul Edgecomb, recognizes Coffey's miraculous gift, he tries desperately to help stave off the condemned man's execution.
Videos & Photos
cast
... Paul Edgecomb
... Brutus 'Brutal' Howell
... Jan Edgecomb
... John Coffey
... Warden Hal Moores
User reviews
**_A Masterpiece of Cinematic Art -- Captivating and Reverent_**
The head Death Row guard at a Tennessee prison during the Depression (Tom Hanks) observes a new inmate, a black man named John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), who is condemned to death for the rape and murder of two little girls. He and his fellow guards become intrigued by the gentle giant and conclude that there's no way he could be guilty of the crime. Who, then, is guilty? And will the guilty party get away with it.
"The Green Mile" expertly mixes film genres: It's part prison flick, part supernatural mystery and part drama. It was adapted from Stephen King's novel by director/writer Frank Darabont and released in 1999. If you're not an admirer of Stephen King books/films (I'm not), DON'T let that deter you from viewing this beautiful and spiritually-profound film; it's by no means a typical horror story, although it does have a couple of horrific scenes.
Running 3-hours, it's over my limited attention span, and yet it's somehow utterly engrossing, even on repeat viewings. It's character/dialogue driven, unique and unpredictable. Don't mistake this for a run-of-the-mill prison flick. The fact that it largely takes place in a prison in the 1930s is a secondary issue. This is a powerful supernatural mystery/drama.
**SPOILER ALERT** (Don't read this next paragraph unless you want to consider possibilities about the character John Coffey)
John Coffey's last name is, evidently, derived from an ancient Sumerian word, kophi, which means "winged creature." Hence, John could be viewed as a angel or messenger from the Almighty. Actually, John is a type of Jesus Christ verified in six ways: (1) His initials are JC. (2) He's good-hearted and can easily recognize true evil. (3) He miraculously heals people. (4) He pronounces and executes divine judgment. (5) He is sacrificed even though completely innocent. And (6) He offers eternal life (in a sense), as evidenced by the extended life-span of the Hanks character and the mouse "Mr. Jingles."
**End SPOILER ALERT**
Don't miss out on this cinematic masterpiece.
Director:
Release Date:
1999-12-10
Run Time:
189 min
MMPA Rating:
R
Reviews of
The Green Mile
**_A Masterpiece of Cinematic Art -- Captivating and Reverent_**
The head Death Row guard at a Tennessee prison during the Depression (Tom Hanks) observes a new inmate, a black man named John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), who is condemned to death for the rape and murder of two little girls. He and his fellow guards become intrigued by the gentle giant and conclude that there's no way he could be guilty of the crime. Who, then, is guilty? And will the guilty party get away with it.
"The Green Mile" expertly mixes film genres: It's part prison flick, part supernatural mystery and part drama. It was adapted from Stephen King's novel by director/writer Frank Darabont and released in 1999. If you're not an admirer of Stephen King books/films (I'm not), DON'T let that deter you from viewing this beautiful and spiritually-profound film; it's by no means a typical horror story, although it does have a couple of horrific scenes.
Running 3-hours, it's over my limited attention span, and yet it's somehow utterly engrossing, even on repeat viewings. It's character/dialogue driven, unique and unpredictable. Don't mistake this for a run-of-the-mill prison flick. The fact that it largely takes place in a prison in the 1930s is a secondary issue. This is a powerful supernatural mystery/drama.
**SPOILER ALERT** (Don't read this next paragraph unless you want to consider possibilities about the character John Coffey)
John Coffey's last name is, evidently, derived from an ancient Sumerian word, kophi, which means "winged creature." Hence, John could be viewed as a angel or messenger from the Almighty. Actually, John is a type of Jesus Christ verified in six ways: (1) His initials are JC. (2) He's good-hearted and can easily recognize true evil. (3) He miraculously heals people. (4) He pronounces and executes divine judgment. (5) He is sacrificed even though completely innocent. And (6) He offers eternal life (in a sense), as evidenced by the extended life-span of the Hanks character and the mouse "Mr. Jingles."
**End SPOILER ALERT**
Don't miss out on this cinematic masterpiece.
"Edgecomb" (Tom Hanks) is in charge of the prison officers who tend to the inmates on death row. He's a decent man who, with the help of his partner "Howell" (David Morse) tries to carry out his task as humanely as possible. Their team also numbers the truly odious "Percy" (Doug Hutchinson). He's an incompetent coward, but he also happens to be the nephew of the state governor, so tends to get away with his obnoxiousness towards the prisoners. That nasty behaviour becomes more pronounced when the giant "Coffey" (Michael Clarke Duncan) arrives. Also newly arrived is a small mouse which befriends, much to the chagrin of "Percy", a fellow inmate (Harry Dean Stanton) and oddly enough it seems to help keep the peace as people come and go. Things take quite an intriguing turn when some physical contact between their gentle giant and "Edgecomb" seems to cure his liver complaint. As the officer realises that this man may well possess healing hands, he and his team begins to bond with him. Meantime, the ghastly little "Percy" screws up his first execution causing an effect straight out of a Wes Craven film and Sam Rockwell's psychopathic "Wild Bill" arrives to liven things up. It's actually Rockwell who steal this for me. His performance is viscerally effective and he really does commit to the role. It's over 3 hours long but the acting is almost perfect as these characters develop and the story unfolds reconciling the brutality of racism, crime and punishment with the attempts at humanity and decency applied by virtually everyone whose lives are touched by these scenarios - even amongst the staff who struggle at times to keep their own priorities in kilter. One of Stephen King's much better stories with depth to the personas, a good baddie to loathe and a message of redemption delivered subtly but powerfully.
Great acting by everyone involved, but the story is just not my cup of tea. If you like fake miracles (no shortage of people that do) and fantasy storylines, like prison guards that are humane and empathic (on death row nonetheless), then you might enjoy this more. I, however, will stick to more realistic fantasy, like mages fighting orcs and that sort of thing, and leave this in the trash pile of conservative media.
_The Green Mile_, directed by Frank Darabont and based on a Stephen King story, revisits prison life with a spiritual edge. Tom Hanks is steady, while Michael Clarke Duncan brings real heart. Set almost entirely on Death Row, its slow pace mirrors the routine and inevitability of execution. The soft lighting and measured camerawork add a quiet melancholy. At over three hours, it’s powerful but indulgent—moving at times, but it does test your patience.
Cast & Crew of
The Green Mile
Cast
... Paul Edgecomb
... Brutus 'Brutal' Howell
... Jan Edgecomb
... John Coffey
... Warden Hal Moores
... Eduard Delacroix
... Arlen Bitterbuck
... Percy Wetmore
... 'Wild Bill' Wharton
... Dean Stanton
... Harry Terwilliger
... Melinda Moores
... Toot-Toot
... Old Paul Edgecomb
... Elaine Connelly
... Klaus Detterick
... Orderly Hector
... Man in Nursing Home
... Lady in Nursing Home
... Marjorie Detterick
... Howie Detterick
... Kathe Detterick
... Cora Detterick
... Sheriff McGee
... Bill Dodge
... Jack Van Hay
... Burt Hammersmith
... Cynthia Hammersmith
... Hammersmith's Son
... Hammersmith's Daughter
... Earl the Plumber
... Woman at Del's Execution
... Wife at Del's Execution
... Husband at Del's Execution
... Police Officer
... Reverend at Funeral
... Tower Guard (uncredited)
... Prisoner (uncredited)
... Police Photographer (uncredited)
... Bitterbuck's Daughter (uncredited)
... Inmate (uncredited)
... Inmate (uncredited)
... Inmate (uncredited)
... Prison Guard (uncredited)
Crew
... Director
... Producer
... Producer
... Original Music Composer
... Director of Photography
... Editor
... Casting
... Production Design
... Set Decoration
... Costume Design
... Stunts
... Stunt Coordinator
... Key Costumer
... Prosthetics
... Novel
... Still Photographer
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Stand In
... Dialect Coach
... Stunts
... Hairstylist
... Set Costumer
... Makeup Artist
... First Assistant Editor
... Stunts
... Makeup Artist
... Assistant Editor
... Animation
... Animation
... Thanks
... Script Supervisor
... Key Hair Stylist
... Supervising Art Director
... Steadicam Operator
... Camera Operator
... Gaffer
... Rigging Gaffer
... Unit Production Manager
... Art Department Coordinator
... Sound Mixer
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Supervising Sound Editor
... Boom Operator
... Music Editor
... Production Coordinator
... Casting Associate
... Casting Associate
... Grip
... Second Second Assistant Director
... Construction Coordinator
... First Assistant Director
... Second Assistant Director
... Second Assistant Director
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... First Assistant Camera
... Second Assistant Camera
... Second Assistant Camera
... Color Timer
... Stunts
... Writer
... Key Makeup Artist
... Costume Supervisor
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