Life Penalty ? (dvd)

Rating: 7/10 (28 May 2016)

This forced sugar melodrama doesn't really moves me : the prison genre has always left me cold and in this case, a lot of things really blocks me : 1) « old sparky » : i found that using a so long and meticulous process is useless and definitively cruel when a firing squad just suffices. It would be interesting to do historical research for the explanation. 2) the gentle, kind atmosphere of the « mile » : except the needed bad guys, everybody else looks as peaceful as the ones of the retirement home : the inmates for death row are supposed to be the worst criminals, while there they are rather lost souls : in a way, it's almost like we should cry for them ! In this way, Coffey is really boring : the gentle dumb, who cries, who is afraid of the dark but love stars ! The wards act like nurses, full of good intentions 3) the healing power of Coffey : it's pure King's paranormal : good idea but one he has already used before and terribly devised : why the needs for those black bugs ??? 4) poor, pitiful Rockwell & Cromwell who never got it well ! you see those two in a lot of movies, they never play the part right as they do tons when it needs subtlety !
If i forget those flaws and others, the movie is really well done as for one time, we have efforts and dedication in every details. The cast has a real chemistry together and Hanks is perfect as the team leader; the cinematography is one of the best i have seen in ages and the production is full of timely artifacts ! The bonus are detailed but they stupidly cut the best birthday speech from King : when he says that he wish for the best movie award so now it loses it !! « Tooms » is worthy of an extraordinary mention and the late « Kingpin » needs a remembrance as well !