Moving and entertaining

Rating: Null/10 (12 July 2004)

Any film that runs 188 minutes, (most of which is filmed on one set), that holds your interest and hooks you emotionally is certainly doing something right. When all is said and done, "Green Mile" simply works. This is no mean achievement.
What makes it all work is a well written screenplay by Frank Darabont, which he has directed with equal ability. A terrific cast headed by Tom Hanks, with support by David Morse, Michael Jeter, Sam Rockwell and Michael Clarke Duncan make a winning team.
Having firmly established the clear merits of "The Green Mile" it should be made equally clear, this is no way a classic. Its treatment of character is shamelessly stereotypical. The bad guys are rotten to the core, while the good guys are angels in disguise. This simplistic perception abounds; no character or storyline overcomes this basically shallow viewpoint. But while you may be aware of these and other artistic limitations, there is enough magic to compensate. Films were made to entertain and move us. Despite its faults, "Green Mile" succeeds extremely well in both these tasks, where so many others fail.