A Searing Success

Rating: Null/10 (21 December 1999)

The team which produced "Shawshank Redemption" has achieved the difficult task of topping its earlier effort. "The Green Mile" joins those rare films--"Shawshank" and "Silence of the Lambs" among them--which deal with evil unflinchingly and without exploitation.
Tom Hanks and Michael Duncan seem to be drawing the attention of most critics of this film. They are excellent in their pivotal roles. But it is the supporting cast that makes this movie work. James Cromwell is believable and pitiable as a grieving husband. Kudos should also go to David Morse("Brutal" Howell)and Michael Jeter (Eduard Delacroix). Gary Sinise and Harry Dean Stanton both give jewel-like performances in tiny parts. Thomas Newman (score) and David Tattersall (cinematography) should both contend for awards for their work.
This movie has been criticized as overly sentimental and obvious. It is neither. It IS emotional--as life and death subjects should be. But what some viewers have labeled as obvious is the film's faithful portrayal of the grinding inevitability of the death machine--even when its target is an innocent man.
Like "Dead Man Walking", this film will cause death penalty supporters(like me) genuine discomfort. If you are looking for quick mind-candy, this is not your film. If you want a film that examines life versus death, duty versus compassion, and healing versus killing in a timeless allegory, you can't do better than this one.