The Green Mile - Review

“Don't put me in the dark. I's afraid of the dark.” – A review of The Green Mile. 

I love Stephen King. I’m a huge fan of his poignant, creepy writing, and I have been reading his work for over a decade. I’ve found that film adaptions of his work are pretty hit and miss, but The Green Mile is a tragically beautiful retelling of a magical yet heartbreaking tale.

Set in Louisiana in 1935, The Green Mile is set in the E Block of Cold Mountain Penitentiary, where inmates must await their grim fate – death by electric chair. The head guard of the block is named Paul Edgecomb and played by Tom Hanks, and when John Coffey, played by Michael Clarke Duncan, arrives, everything changes for him. John, a black man, is physically big and imposing, yet incredibly gentle and kind. Having been convicted of the rape and murder of two little girls, John has been sent to his death. However, it’s clear from the start that he is no ordinary felon; John has an incredible gift of healing and resurrection.

The guards watch John, seeing his gentle nature, kind heart and amazing gift, and are forced to confront the horrifying possibility that John is an innocent man. Paul and his colleagues, Dean Stanton, Brutus “Brutal” Howell and Harry Terwilliger must grapple with the morality of their roles, the issues with the justice system, and the inevitability of the fate of an innocent man.

I cannot stress enough how incredible the performances are in this film. Paul Edgecomb is empathetic, quiet and complex, questioning his own morals and part to play in the upcoming tragedy, echoing the emotional journey of the audience. John Coffey is vulnerable, kind and innocent, yet his child-like nature still brings with it an amazing screen presence, and you really find yourself emotionally invested in both his journey and his incredible humanity. He’s sincere, honest and loving, someone in a terrible position who could have easily and understandably became bitter but instead remains a thoroughly decent man.

The Green Mile is directed incredibly well, which is unsurprising as director Frank Darabont also directed the incredible The Shawshank Redemption. Darabont really understands King’s book and does well to capture the heartache and wonder of the source material. This is a long film, so I won’t say it’s faced paced, but I don’t mind that; over the course of nearly three hours, you see an incredible amount of character development and lots of moments of poignant reflection.

Visually this film is stunning. The colours are muted, with green and sepia hues creating a sad and oppressive atmosphere, fitting for the circumstances. Whilst there are magical, supernatural moments, they are handled delicately, never overshadowing the humanity at the stories centre but instead adding magic into what is otherwise a bleak world to view.

This is a film full of difficult themes and symbolism, so whilst I do wholeheartedly recommend it, I would also advise that you check you have the emotional capacity to watch it. The film explores issues surrounding race and stereotyping, good Vs evil, justice Vs injustice and guilt Vs innocence. It calls into question the ethics of the justice system, and whether it’s really capable of ensuring that innocent people go unpunished for crimes they haven’t committed. The film also explores hope in the face of hopelessness, and I truly appreciate being introduced to Mr. Jingles, a little mouse in a big, scary world.

This film isn’t just moving, it’s devastating. I think it achieves this be being so utterly believable. Yes, you must accept that the supernatural scenes you see are possible, but they’re so needed lest this tale become one of gritty, grim miscarriages of justice. This film is deeply upsetting, but it’s also incredibly compassionate and human.

This is one of the best films America has ever produced, and I cannot recommend it enough. It’s the kind of film that makes you see the world in a new way, to think differently and to consider the mysteries of our existence. This is a story of the mysteries of the past, a story of the realities of the present, and the story of a potential future.

“Sometimes, the past catches up with you whether you want it to or not.”

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

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