Caffeinated Clint
The first tip-off that “The Green Mile” was always going to turn out well is who’s starring in it. Lets admit it, Tom Hanks – ever since his win in “Philadelphia” (1993) – never makes a bad picture. He thinks through his choices more scrupulously than a year-12 student at a biochemistry exam. He’s picked a role here that’s complex but again, very human. You’ll be able to relate to his benevolent warden from the get-go. Granted, the script by would’ve spat colours from the outset…. It’s truly one of the best film adaptations of its time, and even if Hanks were asked to play Mr Jingles the mouse, he would’ve at least considered it based on the material.
Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan, Barry Pepper, David Morse, Sam Rockwell, Bonnie Hunt, William Sadler, James Cromwell, Michael Jeter, Graham Greene, Doug Hutchison, Gary Sinise
Whenever filmmakers take a Stephen King horror yarn and try and translate it to the screen, its usually either a) incomprehensible or b) significantly inferior to the book. At the same time, whenever a filmmaker takes one of King’s non-horror stories (like, for instance “The Body” or “The Shawshank Redemption”) and strips down them for celluloid, they’re no less enjoyable than the books themselves. Go figure.
Adapted for the screen by Frank Darabont (“Shawshank”), “The Green Mile” is the story of a group of guards on death row, supervising the impending execution of a wrongly accused man, who has the power of faith healing.
“The Green Mile” is another solid cinematic translation of one of King’s better non-horror yarns, and in many ways, may even be more enjoyable than the hardcover original. How, you ask? Well, thanks to the electric performance of then-newcomer Michael Clarke Duncan as the film’s anti-hero John Coffey, the story’s poignancy is ramped up a notch here – resulting in a film that won’t just keep you captivated, but may even have you reaching for that hanky in the dresser drawer. The towering actor’s immerse performance as is one of the most touching and credible turns by an actor in years… it’s the glue, if you will, that holds this solid structure together.
The first tip-off that “The Green Mile” was always going to turn out well is who’s starring in it. Lets admit it, Tom Hanks – ever since his win in “Philadelphia” (1993) – never makes a bad picture. He thinks through his choices more scrupulously than a year-12 student at a biochemistry exam. He’s picked a role here that’s complex but again, very human. You’ll be able to relate to his benevolent warden from the get-go. Granted, the script by would’ve spat colours from the outset…. It’s truly one of the best film adaptations of its time, and even if Hanks were asked to play Mr Jingles the mouse, he would’ve at least considered it based on the material.
Hanks is backed-up by a solid support cast, including the abovementioned Duncan (he’s never been offered a role quite as good since), Barry Pepper, David Morse, Sam Rockwell, Bonnie Hunt, William Sadler, James Cromwell, Michael Jeter, Graham Greene, Doug Hutchison and, a regular in Hanks films, Gary Sinise.
The real star of this show though – well, besides Duncan – is the story. It’s a beautie. If it doesn’t melt your heart just a little, you must be stuck in that icy laboratory from Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’ – because this would touch even the coldest of thumpers.
Extras on the re-issued ‘Special Edition’ DVD include a commentary by the forthright Darabont, additional scenes, make-up tests, and most notably, ‘Miracles and Mystery: Creating The Green Mile’ A 6-Part Documentary Gallery featuring the first onscreen DVD bonus interview with Hanks. There’s another doco, ‘Walking the Mile: The Making of the Green Mile’, but that was included first-time around – on the 2000 disc.
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Reviewer : Clint Morris
