[Movie] The Green Mile (1999) - Walk a Mile You'll Never Forget

I couldn't help but try to find out if the movie in this review was based on a real-life story. Well, it wasn't, but rather an adaptation of a novel that forms a major part of the plot. I'll be getting into that later. But you know the movie triggered something and left a mark when it has you thinking if it was from a real-life story, leading you to check for confirmation.

The Green Mile is a fantasy/crime movie, and features the major cast of Tom Hanks as Paul Edgecomb, Michael Clarke Duncan as John Coffey, David Morse as Brutus ‘Brutal’ Howell, Doug Hutchison as Percy Wetmore, Barry Pepper as Dean Stanton, Michael Jeter as Eduard Delacroix, Jeffrey DeMunn as Harry Terwilliger, Sam Rockwell as ‘Wild Bill’ Wharton, Bonnie Hunt as Jan Edgecomb, James Cromwell as Warden Hal Moores, and Patricia Clarkson as Melinda Moores. It was written and directed by Frank Darabont.

The movie follows the past of Paul Edgecomb, a death row correctional officer during the Great Depression. It was his older self reminiscing and telling a friend about those days when he was on duty, and a particular experience that not just changed his life but remained with him as both joy and pain. Paul was in charge of death row or ‘The Green Mile’ as they called theirs. This was where certain criminals were kept until their execution by electric chair.

Together with Brutal, Dean, Harry and Percy; a well-connected but out-of-place young man, they oversaw and watched ‘The Green Mile’. John Coffey, a black enormous man was sent to the Mile on charges of the murder of two girls. For someone his size, it was weird how timid he was. John possessed a gift that could do tremendous things. He healed Paul of his urinary infection and Warden Hal’s wife, Melinda of a brain tumour.

The movie saw the electric chair executions of Arlen Bitterbuck and Eduard Delacroix, and some unforeseen circumstances that could leave you saying why or yes to them. Through that period, Paul and his crew got to know John better, and developed a good relationship with him, with Paul even certain that John didn't commit the offence he was charged with. But can he say otherwise when John was found with the dead girls and no other explanation?

John Coffey left a mark in Paul's life that he lived to remember, for good and bad. But there's more to the movie that I found out. The fantasy drama film was based on the 1996 novel by Stephen King of the same title as the movie. The novel was loosely based on the story of George Junius Stinney Jr. John Coffey was an African American who like Stinney was accused of the rape and murder of two twin girls. Stinney, he was a 14-year-old boy.

The movie proves to be a touching and emotional classic, leaving you to be somewhat reminiscent of the events therein, as with Paul Edgecomb. And being a 1999 movie, it certainly did well with the production. The cinematography was something to applaud. The lighting, especially with the scenes at the correctional facility was balanced. One could feel the warmth it communicated. The camera focus and movement in certain scenes were good.

The actors were good in their delivery. Tom Hanks played his character well as a correctional officer and a man who leads and relates well with the inmates. Wonderful was Michael Clarke Duncan in his role. You certainly see the enormous, timid and gifted man plagued by the things he sees and feels. The demeanour, accent and language carried the character. One must also applaud Doug Hutchison and Sam Rockwell. You know an actor did well when the detestable character was really detested.

The movie explores the themes of justice, morality, compassion and humanity. It leaves some touching and emotional elements that tend to resonate with people. The Green Mile also highlights the need for due process, especially as noted in the novel the movie was adapted from. In the end, it was a good watch.

Image Credits.

Thank you for reading!