I wouldn't want to be picking the oscars this year...

Rating: 9/10 (18 December 1999)

After seeing one of the best films I've seen in a while (American Beauty), I was sure that the next movie I saw would be a letdown. Boy was I wrong. The movie starts out very slow; in fact, the set-up is nearly half the movie, but that is what gives the movie it's power. This set-up creates a bond between the characters and the audience unlike any experienced in any other movie to date. The performances were absolutely outstanding. Surprisingly, the performance noteworthy performance of Tom Hanks is overshadowed by the outstanding performances of three unknown actors: Michael Duncan, Michael Jeter, and Doug Hutchinson. All three of these actors deserve academy awards for their performances, but it's a shame that only one can win it. Michael Duncan has already received his share of praise, but it seems as if Doug Hutchinson and Michael Jeter have not gotten their piece of the pie. Doug Hutchinson delivers an outstanding performance as a snotty prison guard that you love to hate. By the end of the movie, you'll want to see him walking down the green mile. Michael Jeter also delivers an equally outstanding performance as a wacky prisoner. All in all, this is probably the best ACTED movie of the year, but I still believe that the best movie of the year honor goes to the movie previously mentioned earlier.