Rating: Summary: Second-best of '99 by the slimmest of margins Review: Tom Hanks: best role since Big, and perhaps ever. Harry Dean Stanton: best role since Alien. Most of the rest of the cast: best role ever. (The notable exception: Gary Sinise, who didn't have enough screen time to really get his teeth into the role.) The guy who played the warden, whose name I completely forget, has made a career-- and a great one-- out of playing total jerks. And he does it well. This may be his first role as the good guy, and even though I kept expecting him to grab a tommy gun and mow down the rest of the good guys, he's just plain jaw-droppingly good as a man who's simply at the end of his rope. But the guy who really needs singled out here is Michael Clarke Duncan. Duncan plays the huge, gentle, mentally deficient John Coffey so perfectly that he'll go down in history as one of those actors who plays his role so well that people walk away from the experience wondering whether the actor himself suffers from the same deficiencies as the character. The only role like that in the last thirty years or so has been Larry Drake's wonderful character on L. A. Law; before that, you have to go back to To Kill a Mockingbird. There probably aren't many Hollywood roles around for seven-foot-tall four-hundred-pound actors, but if there's any justice in this world, and half a brain, collectively, in Hollywood, someone will start writing roles for this guy. Want some more superlatives? How about the makeup jobs on Michael Jeter and Harry Dean Stanton, which are up to the standards set by the makeup jobs on Murphy and Lawrence in _Life_? There's gonna be a steel cage match for the make-up Oscar this year, and both The Green Mile and Life are equally deserving. The special effects, what little were needed, are chilling, brutal, and unglamorous; there's no glorification of death here. The direction is fantastic; the camerawork is some of the best I've seen all year. My problems with the film are few, and the main one is related to the book, so most people who haven't read it probably didn't even notice. The subplot in the book regarding the Percy-like nurse's aide who confronts Edgecombe towards the end of book five is completely missing from the movie. Because of this, there are a few scenes at the beginning that trail off into nowhere. Also, the closing monologue slips pretty far into melodrama territory, and the film would have been just as good without it. But these are small things in comparison to the monster that is this film. Critics have been pretty uniform in panning it; ignore them completely. This is one of the best, if not the best, of the year. It deserves every accolade it receives, and probably more. Filmmaking in the nineties has only rarely been this good. However, it HAS been this good before, and those little niggling annoyances make me give it a **** 1/2. Still one of the best movies of the decade. If you miss this one, you're cheating yourself.
Rating: Summary: The REAL Best Picture of 1999 Review: This movie is amazing. It may be difficult to watch some parts, but this is only because of the bond the viewer develops with the characters. Buy it right now.
Rating: Summary: Better than Shawshank Redemption............. Review: The Green Mile was a breathtaking movie about a prison in Louisiana during the depression. John Edgecomb (Hanks) is the compassionate, yet tough death row supervisor. He and his fellow guards lives are changed when John Coffey (Duncan) accused of murdering two young girls, enters death row. The Green Mile is a very long movie, however it allows for the excellent character development and storytelling. For the entire movie I was riveted and had a wide array of emotions. The movie had a strong collection of supporting actors and one mouse!! The Green Mile was the best adaptation of a Steve King novel and I felt it was better than Shawshank Redemption. I would strongly recommend this movie for your DVD library.
Rating: Summary: Beautifully and utterly disturbing Review: I am at the end of the first tape and I can already make a judgment for this film. This is a beautiful movie, with very disturbing moments, like the "I didn't know the sponge was supposed to be wet" part. I grimaced serveral times during this film due to it's graphic nature, but it pales in comparison to what the real-life experience would be like. I think that the magical moments should have been cut, (ie: reviving the mouse, curing the bladder infection, etc.)to make the film seem more "authentic" but it adds to the Stephen King nature of the film. This is a very faithful portrayal of the King novel. Very smart dialogue, very humorous and believable characters make this all the more entertaining!
Rating: Summary: "The Green Mile": Well Worth the Trip Review: Every once in a while a movie comes along that reminds you of why you really like movies. "The Green Mile" is such a movie, telling a wonderful story of humanity with all its faults and wonders. You would _not_ want to be a film fan and not see this movie. Hanks has never been better (he should have won another Oscar for this role, and so should the film) and the movie offers career topping performances for a number of other actors, including Michael Geeter. The DVD gives those of us who have trouble sitting in a theater for three-plus hours a chance to enjoy this marvelous film at home with a few gentle pauses, if necessary. If you want a movie-movie experience, that leaves you uplifted at the end, despite its setting and general subject matter, travel "The Green Mile." It's simply wonderful. Joe Oliver
Rating: Summary: Funny, Touching and Brilliant Review: It's seems that Stephen King has a favorite filmmaker Frank Darabont which this is his second King adaptation. Following his masterpiece The Shawshank Redemption. Comes a story about Paul Edgecomb a death row guard played by Tom Hanks who befriends this 7ft tall inmate that seems to have some mysterious powers. I am talking about John Coffee who is accused of murdering a little white girl. In an aw struck performance from Michael Clarke Duncan carrys this film. Then he takes care of a little mouse known as Mr Jingles. If you can withstand a 3 hour running time you are treated with a movie that is funny, touching and brilliant. Tom Hanks is in top form here. Also a great supporting cast. Headed by Michael Clarke Duncan, David Morse, Barry Pepper,Bonnie Hunt and James Cromwell. One of the best films of last year and not to be missed.
Rating: Summary: Amazing. Review: The other reviewers have already echoed all my feelings about this DVD, but I wanted to lend my support to the opinion that it is an amazing, amazing movie. Do not miss it, and keep a kleenex box close by. It's a three hour movie but you won't even notice the running time. I watched it two days in a row, and it was just as good - possibly better - the second time. There is some raunchy language and the execution scenes are pretty graphic, but that is more than worth fast forwarding through for the experience of this movie. Buy it.
Rating: Summary: Super Terrific! Review: This is one of the greatest movies I've ever seen! 188 minutes means more for what you pay for! :)
Rating: Summary: The acting is so Wonderful Review: Hats Off to the film makers who made a Wonderful Heartbreaking Masterpiece called "The Green Mile" many have compared it to the Book and Snubbed it and many complained about the length {3+ hours} It is one of the best movie Of *99. Tom Hanks plays Paul Edgecomb a Warden at a Facilty called "The Green Mile" who gets a prisoner transfer. The person is John Coffey {Micheal Clarke Duncan} he is sentanced for death for Murdering 2 Girls. Many mysterous happenings occur when he arrives. Perhaps the most wonderful part is Mr. Jingles the cute prison mouse. The screenplay is better the Stephen Kings Novel. The Acting is above the other Films{American Beauty, Talented Mr Ripley, Cider House Rules, And The Sixth Sense.} It was looked over at the Oscars but this and Talented Mr Ripley Are the Best Films of The Years. Tom Hanks is Wonderful, Micheal C Duncan is Great and Frank Durabont Directing Is Great. This Is 10* Better then Durabont's other Film "The Shawshank Repentions" The green mile is a masterpiece The Green Mile: A+
Rating: Summary: A must have for any collection Review: I saw this movie in the theater when it 1st came out and was blown away by the emotional impact. I found it a shame that more of the actors couldn't be nominated for their roles. Tom Hanks has far and away one of the best roles of his carrer. Only his turn in "Saving Private Ryan" is more moving. Tom Hanks has often been compared to James Stewart for the depth of his abilities to portray everyman in various situations. In this film, he truly becomes Stewart's equal. Michael Duncan is awesome in his role as the Christ-like John Coffey. Michael Jeter who plays Delacroix deserves recognition for his portrayal. He shows us a condemned man who can find joy in the antics of a pet mouse and . Playing against the nasty guard, Percy Whitmore,(Doug Hutchison) he runs the emotional gamut from joy to fear to savage tormentor when Percy is caught in an embarassing moment. David Morse portrays Brutus "Brutal" Howell, a hulking prison guard who watches out for the well being of his charges-a second gentle giant. Sam Rockwell is terrifying as Wild Bill Wharton and also goes from a drooling sedated idiot to screaming wildman to pleading child before his true evil is revealed. Patricia Clarkson, James Cromwell and Bonnie Hunt all turn in stellar character portrayals as part of the extended family of the guards. This is a movie which is at once funny, tender, terrifying and compelling. I will be inviting family and friends over solely for the purpose of revealing this movie to them.
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