The Green Mile (DVD, 2000)

Director Frank Darabont's second adaptation of a Stephen King prison tale (the first being 1994's nearly flawless THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION) is a hopeful charmer with a hint of the supernatural. The story focuses on Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks), a Louisiana security guard who works on death row during the Great Depression. When John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), a gigantic black man convicted of raping and murdering two white girls, joins the other prisoners on the row, Paul's life is forever altered. Coffey doesn't fit the mold of a psychopathic killer; he's kind, gentle, and afraid of the dark. As the story progresses, Edgecomb learns that there is something more than simple goodness to Coffey. Building to a hopeful climax, Darabont once again proves that he is King's most loyal cinematic translator. The film features uniformly excellent performances in leading and supporting roles, notably Duncan as Coffey; David Morse and Barry Pepper as Hanks's fellow prison guards; and Michael Jeter as condemned killer Edward Delacroix.

"The book was better" has been the complaint of many a reader since the invention of movies. Frank Darabont's second adaptation of a Stephen King prison drama (The Shawshank Redemption was the first) is a very faithful adaptation of King's serial novel. In the middle of the Depression, Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) runs death row at Cold Mountain Penitentiary. Into this dreary world walks a mammoth prisoner, John Coffey (Michael Duncan) who, very slowly, reveals a special gift that will change the men working and dying (in the electric chair, masterfully and grippingly staged) on the mile . As with King's book, Darabont takes plenty of time to show us Edgecomb's world before delving into John Coffey's mystery. With Darabont's superior storytelling abilities, his touch for perfect casting, and a leisurely 188-minute running time, his movie brings to life nearly every character and scene from the novel. Darabont even improves the novel's two endings, creating a more emotionally satisfying experience. The running time may try patience, but those who want a story, as opposed to quick-fix entertainment, will be rewarded by this finely tailored tale. --Doug Thomas

On the DVD

Listen to our interview with Frank Darabont.
Anyone who has seen this Oscar-nominated film knows Frank Darabont likes to t-a-k-e h-i-s t-i-m-e. He certainly does the same in filling all three hours of his commentary track which he recorded over several sessions. Darabont has studied other DVDs and purposely does not repeat tidbits covered in the excellent new 90-minute documentary on author Stephen King and the making of the film. Other solid segments are two deleted scenes, a never-used teaser trailer, and Michael Duncan Clarke's screen test. The highlight is two remarkable tests of Tom Hanks in old-age makeup. Both are very credible, but it was decided to use another actor. The outcome is a DVD that puts the "special" back into the special edition. --Doug Thomas

Product Description
Miracles happen in unexpected places, even on death row at Cold Mountain Penitentiary. There John Coffey, a prisoner with supernatural powers, brings a sense of spirit and humanity to his guards and fellow inmates. Tom Hanks leads a stellar cast (including Michael Clarke Duncan as Coffey) in this emotional, uplifting story of guards and captives; husbands and wives; prisoners and a remarkable mouse named Mr. Jingles; and, on another level, of a moviemaker and his source. Frank Darabont returns after his 1994 directorial debut The Shawshank Redemption to adapt another Stephen King tale into a crowd-pleasing entertainment nominated for four Academy Awards?, including Best Picture.

Stephen King is widely known for his horror books. If you read closely all of his "horror" stories have underlaying themes about the power of love, faith, guilt, heritage etc. So it is not surprising that two of the best-loved movies recently have been based on Stephen King's stories - The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile.

The Green Mile is based on a serial novel - it was released in 6 parts - about a group of guards and inmates on death row (The Green Mile) in an Old South prison. Set during the depression, a guard tells the story that changed his life. He tells the story of a simple man wrongly accused of a horrible crime - the man's inability to defend himself and actually incriminating himself by mistake plus his race made it an open and close case that lead to him being sentenced to death. While this simple and sweet man waits to die he shows the guards and inmates his gift - he can actually heal people and sometimes brings back the dead, which is what made him look and sound guilty of the crime when he was just trying to help.

The acting is superb. Michael Clarke Duncan should have won an Oscar for his performance! Tom Hanks is always good and understated, the rest of the cast is excellent as well, especially Sam Rockwell and Michael Jeter as inmates waiting for their executions.

Beautifully shot, the script is smart and sweet. The only movie I can compare it to would be Shawshank Redemption, they are both sad but uplifting. Both are highly recommended!

When John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), a gigantic black man convicted of raping and murdering two white girls, joins the other prisoners on the row, Paul's life is forever altered. Coffey doesn't fit the mold of a psychopathic killer; he's kind, gentle, and afraid of the dark.
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Oh my -- I love this movie!!
If you like movies that keep you watching for what will happen next -- this is it!!
One of my favorites!!

Wow, what can I say about this film except to say you gotta see it! This tells the story of death row inmates and shows the "dead man walking' story of those whose days are numbered. Tom Hanks does a tremendoud job in this one, as a prison guard, who encounters a huge, mountain of a man, on death row, with strange mystical abilities. This film leave a lasting impression with all of our inevitable fate, which is an appointment with the grim reaper. This is one film you do not want to miss as it is supremely directed, acted and shot in a prison situation drama. Give this one "Two-Thumbs-Up!" 5 STARS *****