A very good film, but doesn't quite deserve the nomination for best picture

Rating: 6/10 (11 March 2000)

Now that I've seen all the five nominees for this year's Oscar as best picture, I can say what I think of each of them-- "American Beauty": simply the best film ever made. If you have read some of my comments, you now that (10/10)-- "The Cider House Rules": a wonderful, warm story, beautifully acted and directed (9/10)-- "The Insider": a very well made drama, discussing important subjects, as ethics, and showing the power of the press in our days (9/10)-- "The Sixth Sense": an excellent supernatural drama with amazing surprises, specially in the end (10/10)-- And "The Green Mile"... Well, it's the 'worst' in the category. I put the word worst between inverted commas because it doesn't mean that it is a bad film. Just the opposite- it's a very good one.
The film begins with an old man telling to a friend of his a story by flashbacks. The story is about his life while he was a chief guard in the 'green mile' of a prison, where criminals wait to be executed. Everything changes when John Coffey, a tall black man, accused of the murder of two little girls, arrives in the prison. I won't tell many details of the plot, but some amazing, supernatural things happen, changing the lives of the guards and the prisoners.
"The Green Mile" is based on a Stephen King novel, and is very well adapted by Frank Darabont, who also makes a great direction job. The acting is another high point of the film. Tom Hanks gives a good performance, and Michael Clarke Duncan surprises us. He deserves his nomination for best supporting actor, but I don't think he deserves to win.

"The Green Mile" has also its flaws. There are many impacting scenes, specially the ones where people die in the electric chair. However, the end, which could have also been impacting, is confusing and weird. Another part I didn't like was when Coffey cures Melinda, the lady with cancer. It looks like an "Exorcist 4". And more- that was predictable.
Taking these defects, the film really works. It is not another "Shawshank Redemption", or something better than "American Beauty" or "Being John Malkovich", but it is a worth seeing. And take your time to discuss some details, as the initials of Michael Clarke Duncan's character (J.C.).

8/10