No Redemption Here - Creepy, Grisly and Disturbing

Rating: 5/10 (9 January 2000)

"The Green Mile" is a three-hour-long movie adapted from a Stephen King book. Its director is the same as that of "The Shawshank Redemption", another Stephen King book adaptation to which it is often compared. I went to see it hoping for an experience something like "Shawshank", in my opinion one of the best films of the past ten years.
Although Tom Hanks and the others do an intense and convincing job in their roles - the three women characters are especially interesting - the movie is much more creepy thriller than uplifting-human-spirit-movie, as some reviews led me to believe. The film is full of graphic and grisly violence, and the tone is almost strictly edgy and dark throughout. There is an abundance of intense evil - not just in the stories of some of the death-row prisoners, but especially in the character of Percy.
This is a story about a death row cellblock, and it would be hard to avoid showing us the darkest side of human beings. However, I believe that good art should also show us the possibility of redeeming the evil, and there is no real redemption here. Tom Hanks' character is admirable, but never really accomplishes much that matters beyond avoiding being a bad person.
Three hours is too long for me to sit watching a psychic-powers thriller with torture scenes. There were one or two joyful moments, but they were very rare - I felt I'd forgotten how to smile when the credits came down.
If you're looking for a movie which makes a point about capital punishment, about prisons, or about spiritual healing, this is not it. Neither does it find truth or beauty or goodness in the midst of evil. It's mostly creepy and disturbing. I'd suggest staying home and reading instead.