A gratuitous, heavy-handed film

Rating: 6/10 (2 December 1999)

This film is completely unfocused, and dwells too much and too long on the executions. The guards never seemed disturbed about what they do. They're not happy about it, but one never gets the sense that they're doing a job that makes them wrestle with their conscience. The acting is excellent, though I don't think this will earn Hanks a third Oscar. You come out of the film feeling battered, and the John Coffey role wasn't emphasized enough to make you rejoice at the miracle.