The Green Mile-If You're Into Celebrity Boot Licking You'll Love It
The Green Mile is unlike any other work that Steven King, who wrote the original story, has ever produced. The film is full of heart and spirit and will move most that will see it, but it is also manipulative and a bit predictable. The story focuses on a man named John Coffey, played brilliantly by Michael Clarke Duncan, who is on death row for crimes that he did not commit. While that is not that unusual, what is unusual is that John is able to heal living beings of their injuries. A great story with a great cast unfolds from there.
The Green Mile did receive much praise since its release, but the fantastic cast has probably not received its due. Tom Hanks plays a prison guard named Paul that is eventually in awe of John and realizes that he has special abilities. James Cromwell, Sam Rockwell, Barry Pepper, Patricia Clarkson, Gary Sinise, Harry Dean Stanton and two consistently overlooked but brilliant actors, William Sadler and David Morse all deliver outstanding performances, making The Green Mile one of the best ensemble cast in recent memories.
Like most of what Hollywood wants to produce The Green Mile falls into one of handful of sacred categories: sequel, television spin-off, movie based on video game or a movie based on a book. In the case of The Green Mile, it is, of course, the fact that The Green Mile is a screenplay based on a Steven King book, that gives it the power to be greenlighted. Don't misunderstand, The Green Mile is a awesome movie. Despite some predictable elements and an obvious tug at ones heart strings, The Green Mile is a masterful work and I am left wondering how King came up with such a great story, seeing as how it is such a remarkable departure from any of his other works. It is a bit of a mystery.
If you are the celebrity boot licking type you will go absolutely insane for The Green Mile as there are more celebrities than you can wave a tongue at. This is definitely a must see for even the casual movie fan, but keep some tissues handy as you are likely to weep a bit.
Story A+ (This is so unlike anything else King has ever written I am in shock that he did it.)
Acting A+ (The Green Mile sports something of a small army of great actors and famous faces and it shows in the final product.)
Visuals A
Originality/Innovation A
Enjoyability Grade A (To freakin sad for a “A+” but a great film all the same.)
Home Theater/HD Factor A
Overall Grade A+
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