An Outstanding Movie

Rating: Null/10 (25 December 2002)

I had rented this movie along with "The Shawshank Redemption" to watch over the Christmas holidays since I had never seen either one before. I watched "The Green Mile" first, and although I feel that "The Shawshank Redemption" is the greater movie, "The Green Mile" is an outstanding movie in its own right.
Frank Darabont shows why he is one of the best screenplay writers/directors with this movie. Despite being over 3 hours long, this was a movie that constantly kept your attention. Tom Hanks, as always, gives an outstanding performance, but the real star is Michael Clarke Duncan as John Coffey ("same name as the drink but spelt not the same"). David Morse, James Cromwell, Bonnie Hunt, Michael Jeter, Barry Pepper, Patricia Clarkson, and even Gary Sinise and William Sadler (who also with Jeffrey DeMunn appeared in Darabont's other classic film, "The Shawshank Redemption") in bit roles give memorable performances as does Doug Hutchison who plays the weasel, Percy.
Yes, it has more "fantasy" elements to it than "The Shawshank Redemption", but it is based on a Stephen King work. And as much as I loved Shawshank, "The Green Mile" is DEFINITELY the sadder movie. Tears came to my eyes several times in this movie, especially near the end.
If you love Darabont movies or Tom Hanks or just want to see an unbelievable performance by a great unknown actor in Michael Clarke Duncan, then you have to see "The Green Mile".