Rating: 
Summary: The Green Mile
Review: In spite of its three-hours-plus duration, I would see this movie again because of the overall SUPERB ACTING! The compassion and human kindness portrayed by some characters, helped to offset the dark side portrayed by others. It provided an opportunity for the viewer to reassess his/her opinion on the controversial issue of capital punishment.
Rating:
Summary: A Beautifully-Acted Epic
Review: This movie completely justifies the obscene amount of money that Tom Hanks makes nowadays. I saw this with moderately high expectations -- but was absolutely blown away by the brilliant acting performances by the two leads - Michael Clarke Duncan and Tom Hanks. The story - quintessentially Stephen King - takes you on a 3-hour mystical journey. Duncan plays a prisoner on death row who possesses a magical power to heal. Hanks is the prison guard who befriends him. The setting - death row - is dark and eerie with its green hallway and dim, drab cells. Yet, for all its desolation, this setting somehow manages to uplift one. You learn to believe in miracles through the context of the scenes that take place therein. This is a very emotional movie. It is flawlessly directed (by writer-director Frank Darabont of "The Shawshank Redemption) and beautifully acted. I would not recommend it to viewers with a short attention span, for it is a riveting 3 hours long. Fans of Stephen King, however, will absolutely revel in this epic!
Rating:
Summary: Take the journey of The Green Mile
Review: From the start to the end The Green Mile arouses all the emotions in your body thrusting you into E Block (Death Row) at Cold Mountain Penitentiary. This movie will consume you from beginning to end leaving you breathless as you exit the theater. Frank Darabont masterfully directs this prison tale. You may remember Frank Darabont as the first time director of another prison epic, The Shawshank Redemption. The cinematography in this movie is great, with lush colors it turns the nightmarish death row setting into a beautiful structure of death. It is a pleasure to watch this movie. The Green Mile tells the story of death row in a 1930's prison and the incidents that take place there. It focuses mainly on an inmate named John Coffey who seems to have supernatural powers. You may notice that John Coffey's initials (J.C.) are identical to another influential biblical figure. Coffey is played by Michael Clarke Duncan in a breakout role. He can be seen previously in Armageddon but you will definitely remember him for this role. For most of the movie your not sure if Coffey is innocent or guilty but you suspect that he is innocent. As you discover Coffey's story and learn about his character you follow three other inmates two of which you follow to the electric chair affectionately named "Old Sparky." These electric chair sequences are some of the most harrowing and suspenseful scenes in a long time. I personally could hear my heart pumping during them. The most powerful part of The Green Mile is the acting. Tom Hanks gives his usual brilliant performance that we have come to expect from him but the supporting cast is the best part of the movie. David Morse (Contact,The Negotiator,The Rock) gives an excellent performance as the biggest of the guards named Brutus. Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan,Enemy of the State) also gives a good performance as the smallest of the guards. However Doug Hutchinson gives the best supporting performance as Percy the mean, insensitive guard who often abuses the inmates. The ensemble cast of the guards in The Green Mile have great chemistry together. The actors who play the inmates are also a pleasure to watch. Of course Michael Clarke Duncan (John Coffey) is great but also Graham Greene, Sam Rockwell, and Michael Jeter. Graham Greene plays an Indian who we follow first to the electric chair. He does a great job. Sam Rockwell plays "Wild Bill" your usual troublemaker causing havoc throughout the prison. And the great Michael Jeter plays Eduard Delacroix. Jeter just about steals the show as Delacroix the man we grow to love right as he is sent to "Old Sparky." He is befriended by Mr. Jingles, the infamous mouse who also almost steals the show. Eduard Delacroix's execution is the hardest to watch due to the fact that it is botched and what happens next is unforgettable. Bonnie Hunt is also good as Tom Hanks' wife just trying to comfort her husband. The cast is what makes this movie really live. The dialogue is some of the best of the year. John Coffey's signature line is when he is introduced to someone. He says "Coffey, like the drink except spelled differently." The best line in the movie though is directed at Percy when he is perplexed by what he sees John Coffey do. "This boy's cheese fell off his cracker" is the line said towards Percy. The Green Mile is an extraordinary movie in many cases. It is a movie that deserves attention and deserves to be seen. It is a movie that you will be tempted to see over and over again because you want to take the journey many times. It is a movie you will not soon forget and is a movie you wait all year to see. It is a shame that we had to wait all year to see the movie and take the journey that The Green Mile has to offer. ****(cinematic ecstasy)
Rating:
Summary: This is THE movie of 1999!
Review: Here is a motion picture that comes along once in a lifetime. The Green Mile is an unbelievable compilation of great acting, directing, and filming and it has an amazing story to tell. One of the chief complaints of the paid critics, was the length of this movie. How could anyone possibly fit all of that character and story line into a 90 minute movie? I did not once check my watch. Surprisingly, the movie follows the book very closesly (unusual for anything authored by Stephen King). Unfortunately, the Golden piece, and by not awarding the best supporting actor to Michael Clarke Duncan, who clearly deserved this award for his moving portrayal of John Coffey. One can only hope the Academy will not neglect this truly deserving film. Don't forget to have steady supply of tissue on hand, it will be needed more than once.
Rating:
Summary: See it!
Review: One of the best and emotionally provocative movies that I have seen in a long time. The movie has a touch of the supernatural (Steven King) but more on the spiritual and human side. I usually don't like King but I did enjoy Shankshaw Redemption. This movie was even better, much better. The Green Mile is long, but it needs to be that long (183 minutes) and uses the time wisely developing the settings, characters and mood resulting in a movie that is complete, not lacking from beginning, middle to end. It is graphic, I repeat graphic, electric chair scenes (which earns it the R rating) The Green Mile made me laugh, be angry, cry, made me ponder. Thought provoking. The story will drew me in, emotionally charged me and then released those emotions. I recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies for 1999/2000
Review: This was a truly incredible movie. I was crying through the whole thing (sobbing actually) and I NEVER cry while watching movies. The Green Mile was powerful and beautiful... If you don't see this movie, you are missing out on SO much!(Bring your tissues... because if it can make me cry, then it can make anyone cry)
Rating:
Summary: Touching story, beautiful acting.
Review: The other fantastic prison movie. (The first one being The Shawshank Redemption). This one is a little more magical and very touching. Do not miss it!
Rating:
Summary: STUNNING!
Review: Stephen King should be extremely proud of Frank Darabont's rendering of "The Green Mile." What an awesome cinematic experience! It certainly does give you a whole new vision of the death penalty, and life in general. What is truly amazing about this film is the casting! They should have given an Oscar to all of them as the most outstanding ensemble cast in years! It's hard to single out any one person, but if you look at the entire cast, you can see how perfect they were for their roles. Of course, Tom Hanks demonstrates why he's considered the best actor out there these days. His portrayal of Paul Edgecomb is simply terrific. His battle with the urinary tract infection is played marvelously, without one word of dialogue, and when he's cured, and goes to the john, the look of relief is something any male can identify with. Truly, an astounding performance. His face never fails to mesmerize, as he anchors this truly touching story. His relationship with his wife (beautifully embodied by Bonnie Hunt) is so beautiful; it's rare to see in movies these days. Michael Clarke Duncan was certainly robbed by Michael Caine of his supporting actor Oscar. Duncan is great. A man of unbelievable size, he still evokes a gentleness and understanding of love in such a wonderful way. His last scene with Hanks is pure gold. The rest of the cast is awesome, too. David Morse (from "St. Elsehwere") is perfect as Brutal. All the guards seem to have a genuine love for each other, and Morse displays strength, compassion and humor in this overlooked role. Jeffrey DeMunn and Barry Pepper as the other "good" guards are brilliant, too. That brings us to Doug Hutchison as Percy, perhaps the most evil and unlikeable character to ever touch celluloid. Hutchison is brilliant in his portrayal of this evil, uncaring, unhuman guard. What he does to Delacort in the electrocution scene is the most cold-blooded murder ever witnessed by this reviewer. You need a strong stomach to sit through this horrible event. Michael Jeter as Delacort, the man who gets an unusual friend in the mouse, Mr. Jingles, is awesome in his role. Likewise, Graham Greene, only on screen for a few minutes, creates an indelible death row victim. And it doesn't stop there: James Cromwell as the warden; Patricia Clarkson, as his dying wife; Harry Dean Stanton as the surrogate victim; Sam Rockwell as the totally irreprehensible Billy Wharton; Gary Sinise in a bit part; and of course Bonnie Hunt as Hanks' wife round out one of the best casts I've seen in years. The Green Mile is one of those movies that sticks in your mind long after you've viewed it; and I almost forgot: Darabont's brilliant decision to cast veterans Dabbs Greer and Eve Brent as the older Hanks and his nursing home confidant. Stunning! The movie never seemed slow, or long; it's hypnotic! It's true film-making at its best. TEN STARS IF WE HAD THEM!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Powerful Movie!
Review: This movie is outstanding, and anyone who gives it less than 5 stars does not do it justice. Tom Hanks, never a disappointment, stars as Paul Edgecomb, a guard who is the main person involved with "The Green Mile," or death row. He brings compassion, integrity, and honesty to the role of a man who is in charge of the inmates sentenced to die. David Morse, an actor who I also happen to love, stars as his friend. The chemistry between these two actors is incredible, and I hope they will star in future movies together as well. Their relationship gives a depth to the entire movie. Barry Pepper, from Saving Private Ryan, is also wonderful, and he will continue to have a great acting career for many years. Duncan shines as John Coffey ("like the drink, only spelled differently"), and really gives the movie a full circle of competent and award-worthy performances. His passion and child-like innocence gives Coffey the true meaning of the word spirit. This is a wonderful movie that can be both sad and touching at the same time. This is the type of movie that once you see it, you will think differently about life and about human beings in general. This movie touches the heart, and does it in a way that few movies have ever done. I hope that everyone who watches this movie will feel as I do, and this is definitely something that everyone should make a point to see!
Rating: 
Summary: Good movie that is hamstrung by its own 'gravitas'
Review: If there ever was a movie made to win a bunch of Oscars, "The Green Mile" is it. It has the serious story, the serious actors, and the serious length that the Academy likes to reward with serious numbers of statuettes. But it's this calculated "We're making a Great, Important Film" attitude that really hamstrings "The Green Mile", a good film that could have been far better with less liberal doses of gravitas. This isn't to say that "The Green Mile" doesn't have its strong points; it's beautifully made, well acted, and does have some wonderful moments. To begin with, the cast is excellent. Tom Hanks turns in another wonderful everyman performance as prison death row guard Paul Edgecombe, who tries to let his charges live with as much dignity and respect as a person waiting for his turn in the electric chair can. The rest of the actors portraying Edgecombe's crew are also fine, but Doug Hutchinson stands out as the smarmy, abusive Percy Wetmore, a man who most assuredly gets what he deserves. Harry Dean Stanton has a great turn as Toot Toot, a old-timer con who helps Edgecombe's crew rehearse executions. ("I'm fryin! I'm a done tom turkey!" he exclaims from the electric chair, as Edgecombe pretends to turn on the juice.) Frank Darabont's direction is suave and self-assured; like his previous film, "The Shawshank Redemption", "The Green Mile" portrays prison life with just the right amount of depressing reality and everyday humanity. And though "The Green Mile" is too long, you have to hand it to Darabont for making the film long enough for its various characters and storylines to flesh themselves out; too bad he spent too much time focusing on Mr. Jingles, the prison's resident circus mouse. The problems with "The Green Mile" start with Mr. Jingles and John Coffey, a huge, powerful, but barely coherent man who lands in Edgecombe's care for killing and molesting two young girls. As time goes on, it becomes apparent that John Coffey has magical healing powers (check the initials); he heals Edgecombe's urinary infection and the warden's brain tumor, and even fixes Mr. Jingles after Percy crushes him. The plot centers around Edgecombe's growing certainty that Coffey couldn't possibly be guilty of the heinous crime that landed him on death row; the Big Question - whether they can execute this guy or not - is the other plot center. Michael Clarke Duncan plays Coffey as a virtual mountain of pain, and the pain shows through in every shot. Problem is, there's not much more to Coffey than pain, and that's a major failing of the film, and of Duncan's performance. Perhaps the original point of the Coffey character was to show a man who simply wanted to die, but Coffey is so depressing and one-dimensional, and dominates so many scenes, that I suspect a goodly part of the audience wanted to see him die after the first hour. That brings us to the subject of length. The main criticism of "The Green Mile" is that it's too long, and I agree. Having said that, I don't mind long movies at all...as long as they give me fascinating characters and situations, and don't beat me about the head and face with how important they are. This is why other long movies like "The Godfather", "Titanic", or even "Boogie Nights" seem to fly by, while "The Green Mile" drags dutifully and laboriously onward. Thankfully, Darabont wisely avoids the trap of talking too much about capital punishment; given the film's subject matter and a particularly brutal execution sequence, "The Green Mile" could have been an anti- (or pro-) execution manifesto. But given that that death by electric chair - a particularly grisly death AND topic if ever there was one - lurked behind every frame of this film, couldn't it have focused more on people and less on Big Themes like the Messianic Man Who Must Die? Darabont's mistake wasn't making "The Green Mile" too long; it was filling "The Green Mile" with so much fluff (like the mouse), self-importance, and Great Cinema flourishes that the movie sagged under the weight of its own inflated self-expectations. That's sad, because "The Green Mile" could have been a lean, mean, prison fable that really would have walked off with a zillion Oscars.
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