Chaplin
Better off silent
Continuing our week...
I know this is a minority opinion, but I'm not sure if I like this movie just as much as Shawshank or not. Either way, I love both these movies.
SYNOPSIS: Tom Hanks stars as Paul Edgecomb, a prison guard in 1930's Louisiana. He is the supervisor of E-Block, Death Row, nicknamed The Green Mile because of the painted green floors. The story starts with the transfer of a new prisoner, just like Shawshank, except this prisoner is no "wife-killing banker". John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan) is a hulk of a man, and yet his feeblemindedness betrays the awful crime he is accused of. The film becomes a journey for Paul and his fellow guards as they interact with various prisoners and form a bond with Coffey, not only because of his gentleness, but because of his amazing secret that borders on miraculous.
Like Shawshank, I think the Green Mile suffers from being overlong--actually moreso. But where you could see the point where you could end Shawshank (after Andy's liberation), here there is no place you could end the film except the end. That just means that there is a lot of meat in the film, especially in the 2nd act. As a writer, 2nd Acts are extremely hard to write, but Darabont's strength appears to be 2nd acts, and it shows full force here.
Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan, Michael Jeter (as Del, a cajun inmate), David Morse (as 2nd-in-command Brutal), Doug Hutchinson (as the evil Percy) and Sam Rockwell (as the psychotic Billy The Kid) all turn in masterful performances. Shawshank was anchored by the performances of the cast--The Green Mile is no different. Even the mouse, Mr. Jingles, does great work!
Again, Darabont shows considerable skill directing actors, and even incorporates the mysticism and special effects with professionalism. The Green Mile isn't some fairy tale land, it's dank and dark, and Coffey's appearance in it is a stark contrast.
Having never read the book, it's hard for me to compare, but I have heard that the book gets more in-depth to the framing story--Paul in a modern day rest home--and one of the guards, who is uncannily like the sadistic Percy Whetmore. I'm glad Darabont didn't expand too much in the rest home, as it would have taken the focus off of what is a great period story.
I know this is a minority opinion, but I'm not sure if I like this movie just as much as Shawshank or not. Either way, I love both these movies.
SYNOPSIS: Tom Hanks stars as Paul Edgecomb, a prison guard in 1930's Louisiana. He is the supervisor of E-Block, Death Row, nicknamed The Green Mile because of the painted green floors. The story starts with the transfer of a new prisoner, just like Shawshank, except this prisoner is no "wife-killing banker". John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan) is a hulk of a man, and yet his feeblemindedness betrays the awful crime he is accused of. The film becomes a journey for Paul and his fellow guards as they interact with various prisoners and form a bond with Coffey, not only because of his gentleness, but because of his amazing secret that borders on miraculous.
Like Shawshank, I think the Green Mile suffers from being overlong--actually moreso. But where you could see the point where you could end Shawshank (after Andy's liberation), here there is no place you could end the film except the end. That just means that there is a lot of meat in the film, especially in the 2nd act. As a writer, 2nd Acts are extremely hard to write, but Darabont's strength appears to be 2nd acts, and it shows full force here.
Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan, Michael Jeter (as Del, a cajun inmate), David Morse (as 2nd-in-command Brutal), Doug Hutchinson (as the evil Percy) and Sam Rockwell (as the psychotic Billy The Kid) all turn in masterful performances. Shawshank was anchored by the performances of the cast--The Green Mile is no different. Even the mouse, Mr. Jingles, does great work!
Again, Darabont shows considerable skill directing actors, and even incorporates the mysticism and special effects with professionalism. The Green Mile isn't some fairy tale land, it's dank and dark, and Coffey's appearance in it is a stark contrast.
Having never read the book, it's hard for me to compare, but I have heard that the book gets more in-depth to the framing story--Paul in a modern day rest home--and one of the guards, who is uncannily like the sadistic Percy Whetmore. I'm glad Darabont didn't expand too much in the rest home, as it would have taken the focus off of what is a great period story.
I thought it was a phenomenal movie.
