With Talent Like This, How is it So Disappointing?

Rating: 6/10 (29 March 2000)

In a year with so many wonderful, original, intelligent films, I expected The Green Mile to deliver as well. I left the theater in a daze at the 3 hour running time, and utterly disappointed in the film. Let me just say that I thought that the film was very well cast, and the direction from Darabont was actually quite good. What was lacking was a good, intelligent script. If you break it down, there is not really an original idea in this entire film. It's like King and Darabont watched as many prison films as they could, and stole all the good ideas. If you don't believe me, check out Birdman of Alcatraz. They even stole from their previous collaboration, and far superior film, The Shawshank Redemption. This script, and story in general, also lacks any true heart or emotion. The characters are paper thin, and we are told which ones to like and hate. The filmmaker does not give us a chance to choose; the bad guys are totally bad, and the good guys totally good. Plus, all the big so-called "emotional" scenes are totally contrived and completely phony. I might be coming down a little hard on this film, but only because I wanted to like it, and I expected better. With all the talent involved, this should have been a great film. Instead, it is quite disappointing. Sorry guys.