Good - but not perfect

Rating: 8/10 (24 November 2002)

I have resisted seeing this movie because of all the hype, but am glad I finally watched it - as it is far better than I expected.
This is the first Tom Hanks movie, where I forgot who he is and became immersed in the character. I think this is his best performance ever, but it was eclipsed by those of Sam Rockwell as Wild Bill and Michael Clark Duncan as John Coffey. Duncan's performance in particular was one of the most gripping I have ever seen in many years of movie going. There really was not a wrong note in the casting and all performances were far above average. The only possible miscasting was Dabs Greer as the Old Paul Edgecomb - surely there was someone available who looked a bit more like Tom Hanks?
As with all Stephen King stories there are no shades of grey in the characters, they are all either good or bad and we are made sure of that right from the start. This, particularly in a movie of such great length does pall somewhat, but the story gripped right to the end and there is lttle that could be left out.
It is necessary in a story such as this to suspend disbelief, but then this is so with virtually all of King's stories. That is not a criticism, good entertainment should not have to be justified.
The Green Mile is not as brilliant as its publicity suggested, but it is on the whole a thought provoking movie.