Day 247 – The Green Mile

Movie Title: The Green Mile

First Watch / Repeat Viewing

Running Time: 3 hr. 9 min.

Rated: R

Who did I watch with?: Stephie

Where did I watch it?: Home

Review:

The Green Mile stars Tom Hanks as a death row prison guard. Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) is surrounded by a group of excellent prison guards that help keep the prisoners calm and in order. Maintaining morale on death row must be an extreme challenge, but it is made harder by Paul’s circumstances. Paul Edgecomb suffers from a severe bladder infection that is sapping his energy. Things get worse when he has to deal with a troublesome prison guard played by the pesky Doug Hutchison. Things get still more terrible when Wild Bill Wharton (Sam Rockwell) is transferred to his ward and raises absolute hell. After being kicked in the business by Wharton during a one man riot he is left in writhing agony.

John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan) insists on talking to Paul during which time he grabs him by the junk and sucks the pain out of his body (purely metaphorically.) After which, moths are emitted from his mouth. This supernatural element drives the story and sets the tone. Coffey is presumed innocent by Edgecomb which puts him in an extreme moral dilemma after Coffey continues to work miracles for the prison. The light supernatural moments add an element of magical realism to the affair rather than turning the movie into schlock.

The cast is phenomenal from top to bottom and features in addition to Hanks, Duncan, and Rockwell: David Morse, James Cromwell, Michael Jeter, Graham Greene, Barry Pepper, Gary Sinise, and the late great Harry Dean Stanton. There is also a mouse that is integral to the story and provides some of the most touching moments in the movie.

Verdict:

It is an emotionally moving, tragically heart wrenching, movie. See it.

Tomorrow’s Movie: Death Wish (1974)