Another Superb Cast in the Powerful and Magical Green Mile

Rating: Null/10 (29 December 1999)

The film business is certainly going out of the 20th century with one hell of a bang. 1999 has had an astonishing amount of excellent films with some of the most powerful acting that I can think of. Just trying to keep up with the slew of great films is a full time job and here at the tail end of the year comes another superb, if slightly flawed piece of filmmaking, "The Green Mile". Like 1994's, "The Shawshank Redemption", "The Green Mile" is adapted from a Stephen King novella and directed by Frank Darabont, who also directed "Shawshank". The Green Mile of the film is the section of the Louisiana State Penitentiary for death row inmates. Tom Hanks is Paul Edgecomb, the head guard of death row, who is battling a nasty urinary track infection, a sadistic guard (Doug Hutchinson) and the crew of inmates, particularly the nasty William "Wild Bill" Wharton (Sam Rockwell). Enter into Edgecombs life, but a new prisoner, John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan) who has been convicted of brutally raping and killing two young girls. A seven-foot gentle giant, Paul is convinced that Coffey is not capable of harming a soul, especially after witnessing his unique healing powers that can't be explained. The more Paul gets to know him, the harder it is for him to walk Coffey down that green mile.
"The Green Mile" is somewhat sentimental and predictable, a tad bit too long, starts off at a snails pace, plus the one prison guard is a typical stock villain and the mouse bit (a very cute one to boot) goes on a little too long, but this film is good old fashion story telling with some great acting to help it rise above its minor flaws. It is a powerful and mystical tale that shows the best and worse in humanity. Much superior to "The Shawshank Redemption", "The Green Mile" is one of this years best films that relies on great writing with potent acting. The acting is pretty much flawless and Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan are being mentioned for Oscar time. Both are very good, especially Hanks, who gives another great performance as Paul, but it is Michael Jetter who deserves the Oscar nomination for supporting actor as inmate Eduard Delacroix. Jetter, a veteran actor of film, stage and television (Evening Shade), gives a brilliant performance creating a very memorable character. It was not till part way through the movie that I realized that the actor was Michael Jetter. It will be a major disappointment if he is not nominated; it is a remarkable performance in a film with some of this year's finest acting. David Morse (St. Elsewhere) as prison guard Brutus also does superb work. This fine actor should be working much more; he is totally captivating while on screen. Overall this is some of the finest ensemble acting this year.
Tom Hanks has good instincts for picking great roles in very good films and "The Green Mile" shows him at the peak of his career. If only more of today's "movie stars" could follow his lead. "The Green Mile", another great film to end 1999 and this century. Recommended. × × × × out of 5.