Inflated and groaning ordeal

Rating: Null/10 (3 September 2000)

* ½ (1½ out of 5)

The Green Mile

Directed by: Frank Darabont, 1999

Sterile and chummy Stephen King adaptation. Filmmaker Frank Darabont wrote the screenplay and directed, with Tom Hanks planned for the lead role since the beginning. Formulaic and sentimental drama has few highs and many lows (including a three hour running time). David Morse  a terrific and charismatic actor  is seriously wasted.

Way inferior to The Shawshank Redemption (also King and Darabont) and it undeservedly got caught up in much hype. The superficial tone isn't convincing at any time and the special effects and slick characters are too glossy for the movie to touch in any sense.