Pros: a great introduction to Michael Clarke Duncan, uses a blatant racial stereo-type, but shows that you cannot judge a book by its cover... or even its preface.
Cons: still plays to stereotypes that this country needs to get over!
I'd had mixed feelings about seeing this film, not sure what it was about, but resistant to seeing another death row film, particularly one that plays into negative racial stereotypes. But, I needed something to do one evening, so I decided to rent it. WOW! Am i ever glad i did! This movie is phenomenal!
I actually watched this movie just a few hours after seeing The Patriot (another long, 3 hour movie) and yet Green Mile did not seem nearly as long. There is a strangely soothing nature about this film, which I owe primarily to the character marvelously portrayed by Michael Clarke Duncan, John Coffey ("like the drink but not spelled the same"). Tom Hanks did a wonderful job as well... as always.
The story has a great mix of characters, from the serene John Coffey, to "Del", a rather simpleminded fellow inmate, to the truly evil inmate, "Wild Bill". And these same characteristics are seen in Paul (Tom Hanks) who is calm and serene and ever fully-present cell block head guard, to the psychotic death row guard-wannabe, Percy.
The movie's director and screen writers need to be applauded for taking a Stephen King novel and actually doing it right! Indeed, i was shocked to learn that this was a King story, because it is actually a serious piece of work. This movie is a true must see, for it's depiction of life on death row, and the realities that we must face with regard to the death penalty in our country.
Rent this TODAY!
An additional note... I just read an epinion by "Wokelstein" and though he rated this movie poorly, with just 2 stars, if you read his epinion, I think his words tell a different story. I felt his assessment of this movie was really incredible and very well thought out.
Miracles happen in unexpected places, even in the death-row cellblock at Cold Mountain Penitentiary. There John Coffey, a gentle giant of a prisoner w...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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