So here we are the end of the penultimate section. After this movie there are just fifty movies left in the list to go and fifty reviews to do well there is a little bonus sections coming before the 50th and the countdown goes in full. Let’s get on with this movie first shall we. Released in 1999 this drama was written and directed by Frank Darabont. Based on a series of books from Stephen King all called the green mile but it was in six different books that formed the mini- series. It is set on death row during the Great Depression with supernatural occurrences happening particularly around a particular in mate. Starring a list of names including Tom Hanks, David Morse, Bonnie Hunt, Michael Clarke Duncan, James Cromwell, Michael Jeter, Graham Greene, Doug Hutchison, Sam Rockwell, Barry Pepper, Jeffrey DeMunn, Patricia Clarkson, and Harry Dean Stanton (and breathe). Made on a budget of $60m it went on to make $286.8m at the box office and I can see why. It was loved by the IMDb mob giving this one an 8.6 out of whilst Rotten Tomatoes give it less (which is unheard of!) with a 78%. I will try not to give spoilers in the plot section coming up.
We begin in an assisted living home in 1999 we hear from an elderly retiree Paul Edgecomb who becomes emotional whilst viewing a film called Top Hat. His friend in the home Elaine is concerned and asks Paul about it and what the film reminds him of. He explains what he witnessed when he worked in Cold Mountain Penitentiary’s death’s row wing in 1935. The wing was nicknamed ‘The Green Mile’ and Paul was a supervisor there. Paul reports to the Warden Hal Moores and is responsible for the officers Brutus Howell, Dean Stanton, Harry Terwuilliger and Percy Wetmore. It was on the green mile that he met the inmate John Coffery a monster of a man in size and muscle and a heart as big as his body but appears slow with a brain that didn’t grow like his body and heart did. Across the story inmates come onto the mile and meet their end. Before others come along each with a unique story to tell but none anything like John’s. John is also the one that has magical powers to heal people by just touching them. He can also suck out diseases which are then released like a black swarm out into the air. The story follows Paul telling the stories of all the members of the Green Mile as they count down to their executions.
For the plot and basically where it is set you might be surprised by that this is a sweet and lovely movie with such a dark and evil overtone. The guards are there to make the last days of these men as pleasant as possible. They may be scum and done some truly horrible things but for the last few days remaining they ensure that they are treated with as much dignity as possible. As mentioned, this story was written as six short stories as part of a mini-series which this movie managed to squeeze into one movie. Credit to Frank Darabont who has brought this together perfectly onto film. He has worked the melancholy is dealt with well and the nasty business of killing people (whether scum or not) is treated with suitable dignity without shirking away from the raw nasty elements of the story either. This is a lovely movie to watch with a hankey to catch your tears whilst you fall in love with some characters and absolutely hate some of the others. It balances the line to perfection and that is why it is loved by so many people and they are not wrong to love it as it is a great movie. If you haven’t seen this movie, I am not even going to tell you to go and watch it, but I will tell that I feel sorry for you as you have missed out on this gem.
Next up is a section ahead of the top 50 countdown I hope you enjoy!
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