Inferior to "The Shawshank redemption"

Rating: 8/10 (20 January 2000)

"The Green Mile" will have excellent chances at the Oscars because "Th Shawshank redemption" was over-looked at the Oscars in 1994. But it isn't as good as "The Shawshank redemption" probably because it isn't realistic at all. However, the acting level can be compared because Morgan Freeman and Tom Hanks are both very good actors. As for the directing, I think Darabont did a better job with "The Shawshank redemption" than with "The Green Mile". "The Green Mile" is a very good movie however and deserves to make it to the Oscars and in many categories.
Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) works on death row at the local prison. Death row at his prison is called the green mile because the floor on which the men walk going towards the execution room is green. Paul has a bad urinal infection that year. But aside from that everything is fine. Also, since the men who are going to be executed there are practically as many as the guards, well the guards have befriended them. But one day, John Coffee (Michael Clarke Duncan) is sent to the green mile. This man looks like he could kill a man by blowing him over. He is even bigger than one of the guards named Brutus (David Morse). But once he is locked up, routine-life on the green mile starts again.
One day however, while everyone is minding their own business, John calls Paul and asks him to grab his hand. As soon as Paul grabs John's hand, John pulls him toward his cell and after a few seconds, he lets Paul go. Paul instantly goes to the bathroom and realizes his urinal infection has gone away. That was John's biggest secret. The man is able to make miracles and soon starts changing many things on the green mile.
All the guards deliver great performances and Michael Clarke Duncan walks away with the movie. I'm sure you'll be seeing him in the nomination list for best-supporting actor at the Oscars. As for the movie itself, I think I found it inferior to "The Shawshank redemption" especially because it wasn't that realistic and Michael Clarke Duncan had a Jesus-like personality performing miracles and saving people's lives but he still delivers a terrific performance. As for Frank Darabont, well chances are you'll be seeing his name in the best director nomination list if not this year's winner.