Green Mile (1999)

"Unquestionably the best picture of the year.  David Sheehan, CBS-TV
"...strong, moving performances and Darabont's durable storytelling make it a trip worth taking...  Janet Maslin, The New York Times
"Great filmmaking. Great story. Great storytelling.  Joel Siegel, Good Morning America

Editor's Note Director Frank Darabont's second adaptation of a Stephen King prison tale (the first being 1994's nearly flawless THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION) is a hopeful charmer with a hint of the supernatural. The story focuses on Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks), a Louisiana security guard who works on death row during the Great Depression. When John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), a gigantic black man convicted of raping and murdering two white girls, joins the other prisoners on the row, Paul's life is forever altered. Coffey doesn't fit the mold of a psychopathic killer; he's kind, gentle, and afraid of the dark. As the story progresses, Edgecomb learns that there is something more than simple goodness to Coffey. Building to a hopeful climax, Darabont once again proves that he is King's most loyal cinematic translator. The film features uniformly excellent performances in leading and supporting roles, notably Duncan as Coffey; David Morse and Barry Pepper as Hanks's fellow prison guards; and Michael Jeter as condemned killer Edward Delacroix.

	Bonnie Hunt
	David Morse
	Harry Dean Stanton
	James Cromwell
	Michael Clarke Duncan
	Patricia Clarkson
	Sam Rockwell
	Tom Hanks
	David Tattersall - Cinematographer
	David Valdes - Producer
	Frank Darabont - Director
	Frank Darabont - Screenplay
	Frank Darabont - Producer
	Jeff Coopwood - Original Music By
	Richard Francis-Bruce - Editor
	Stephen King - Based On Novel By
	Thomas Newman - Original Music By

THE GREEN MILE, based on a Depression-era tale by Stephen King, tells the story of the unusual bond that is formed between Paul Edgecomb, a Louisiana security guard, and John Coffey, a gentle and gigantic inmate on death row.

"This big man is about to pull off your ears. Aren't you going to listen to him?"----Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks), regarding John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan)

"On the day of my judgement, when I stand before God, and he asks me why did I kill one of his true miracles...what am I gonna say? That is was my job? My job?"----Paul Edgecomb to John Coffey

Variety
"...[A] powerful and meticulously crafted drama....Hanks excels..." p.56-70

Entertainment Weekly
"...[Hanks] is on par with his career-best work....A long walk to a worthwhile destination..." -- Rating: A- 06/16/2000 p.67

Chicago Sun-Times
"...There are several sequences of powerful emotion in the film....It tells a story with beginning, middle, end, vivid characters, humor, outrage and emotional release..." 12/10/1999 p.35

Washington Post 9 of 10
...Darabont has...selected a superb cast to maintain this affecting buoyancy. Hanks is very engaging as Edgecomb, whose dawning conscience--particularly regarding Coffey--informs the entire drama. Morse brings a deep-seated integrity to Brutus, whose gentle wisdom controls his temptation to pummel Wetmore into pulp. As Wetmore and "Wild Bill," Hutchinson and Rockwell are so infuriating, so blissfully hateful, you may find your fingernails boring holes into your palms. And then there's Duncan, whose presence is literally and figuratively, the biggest thing in the movie... - Desson Howe

ReelViews 8 of 10
...The Green Mile is at times a powerful motion picture. The characters are well-drawn and ably portrayed, with Tom Hanks filling the shoes of the likable protagonist as only he can, and Doug Hutchison doing a good job making us hate him...But the real standout is Michael Clarke Duncan, who easily acts circles around Hanks--his portrayal of John is often touching and occasionally wrenching. If there's an acting Oscar nomination in The Green Mile's future, it belongs to Dunan, not Hanks... - James Berardinelli