Hanks, Duncan and chills down your spine

Rating: 10/10 (30 December 2013)

Have you ever felt the feeling of not feeling ashamed for crying unabashedly in public, watching well what, just a movie??? This was the case with me when I went through this motion picture running for a whopping three hours with powerhouse performances from bigshot Tom Hanks and the relatively unknown late Michael Clarke Duncan. This is among a list of American movies rating right up there with the best with a spotless storyline, a screenplay that is just oh-so-brilliant that I had to constantly rewind in order to clearly get the underlined implications, and the smooth acting performances delivered by the protagonists. It starts at an old age home where a mysterious old man bursts uncontrollably into tears inexplicably on watching a motion picture clip from the yesteryears. He is pacified by his lady friend and the actual narration starts here about his history and what made him cry. Tom Hanks takes up the role of a chief prison guard Paul Edgecomb, in charge of a wing which houses the prisoners convicted to the death penalty. The narration takes on a unbiased approach while describing few inmates subjected to corporal punishment, at times even being empathetic towards them. The name of the movie stems from the fact that the path towards their capital punishment from their cells were covered with green weed and was ironically called The Last Mile signifying their last walk. Paul and his team are infested by another guard Percy Wetmore who flaunts his connections with the Governor and causes wanton mayhem, insulting prisoners and making a mockery of prison etiquettes. The piece is all about John Coffey(Duncan), the giant black convict on death row for raping and murdering two little girls and his ensuing deep relationship with Paul(Tom). Coffey delivers one of his most cherished performances. To see such a hulk of a man weeping like a kid and being "afraid of darkness" was awe-inspiring, such was his depth and involvement. As the movie progresses, Coffey does deeds of magic that defy logic like curing a pet mouse of a repentant fellow convict, and curing the dreaded cancer of the prison warden's wife. The bond and the trust that develops between him and Paul is just too good to be true. Paul is also suffering from bladder infections which is cured by Coffey with a touch. All the while Paul is made to believe in the existence of the ethereal, the power of the almighty through Coffey. He knows that Coffey was innocent and the significance of the words Coffey utters "Boss, I could'nt bring 'em back", referring to the dead girls in his ape like arms when he was caught supposedly red handed. This conflicting person with his heavenly powers and yet frail emotional attitude clouded Paul's mind. He thought of ways to save this angel from the death penalty by allowing him to run away to which the big man replies that he is tired of human dystopia and the way he has been washing the evils of the society. All of him could not bear human insolence any longer(as a 2nd Jesus Christ washing away the sins of humanity and suffering himself) and it was the right time for him to die. In the end Paul says that he has left some of his gifts with him like long life and the ability to see events. But I would remember this movie for just a single thing/one. Michael Clarke Duncan. The way he utters "Boss" referring to Hanks, depicts the humility of the towering 7 foot frame and sends a chill down your spine. The all pervading and all pervasive force can be so meek and innocent, devoid of vanity--but look at our disdain??