The Green Mile

The Green Mile

Directed by :Frank Darabont

Screenplay by :Frank Darabont

Based on :The Green Mile by Stephen King

Produced by :Frank Darabont David Valdes

Starring :Tom Hanks ,David Morse ,Bonnie Hunt ,Michael Clarke Duncan ,James Cromwell ,Michael Jeter ,Graham Greene ,Doug Hutchison ,Sam Rockwell ,Barry Pepper ,Jeffrey DeMunn ,Patricia Clarkson ,Harry Dean Stanton

Music by :Thomas Newman

Production companies :Castle Rock Entertainment ,Darkwoods Productions

Release date :December 10, 1999 (United States)

Running time :188 minutes

Country :United States

Language :English

Budget :$60 million

Box office :$286.8 million

STORY LINE

At a Louisiana assisted-living home, elderly retiree Paul Edgecomb becomes emotional while viewing the film Top Hat. His companion Elaine becomes concerned, and Paul explains to her that the film reminded him of events that he witnessed in 1935 when he was an officer at Cold Mountain Penitentiary's death row, nicknamed "The Green Mile."

In 1935, Paul supervises Corrections Officers Brutus "Brutal" Howell, Dean Stanton, Harry Terwilliger, and Percy Wetmore, reporting to chief warden Hal Moores. Paul is introduced to John Coffey, a physically imposing but mild-mannered African American man sentenced to death after being convicted of raping and murdering two young white girls. He joins two other condemned convicts on the block: Eduard "Del" Delacroix and Arlen Bitterbuck, the latter of whom is the first to be executed. Percy, the nephew of the state governor's wife, demonstrates a sadistic streak but flaunts his family connections to avoid being held accountable; he is particularly abusive towards Del, breaking his fingers and killing his pet mouse Mr. Jingles.

 After John heals Paul's severe bladder infection by touching him and later resurrects Mr. Jingles, Paul gradually realizes that John possesses a supernatural ability to heal others. Suspecting that John is endowed with the power to perform divine miracles, Paul doubts whether he is truly guilty of his crimes. Meanwhile, the officers are forced to deal with psychotic new inmate William "Wild Bill" Wharton, who frequently causes trouble by assaulting the officers and racially abusing John, forcing them to restrain him in the block's padded cell on more than one occasion.

In exchange for resigning from the penitentiary and accepting a job at an insane asylum, Percy is allowed to oversee Del's execution. At the execution, Percy deliberately avoids soaking the sponge used to conduct electricity to Del's head, leading to Del suffering a gruesome and agonizing death, with John forced to feel Del's pain as well. Paul and the other officers bind and gag Percy as punishment for his actions and force him to spend a night in the padded cell. While Percy is locked away, they secretly smuggle John out of the prison so that he can use his powers to heal Warden Moores's wife Melinda of a brain tumor, saving her life. After Percy is released from the padded room, the others threaten to report him for his various acts of misconduct if his behavior continues.

 Later, John uses his powers to "release" Melinda's affliction into Percy's brain, causing Percy to shoot Wild Bill to death. Shortly after, John reveals to Paul that Wild Bill was the true culprit of the crimes for which he was wrongfully condemned, releasing his supernatural energy into Paul in the process. Having suffered a mental breakdown, Percy is committed to the same insane asylum where he had planned to work after resigning from the prison.

Finally realizing that John is innocent, Paul is distraught at the thought of executing him, and offers to let him go free. John tells Paul that the execution would be a kindness, as he views the world as a cruel place, and is in constant pain from the suffering that people inflict upon each other. Mentioning that he has never seen a movie before, John watches Top Hat with the other officers as a last request. When executed later that night, he asks not to have a hood placed over his head, as he is afraid of the dark. The officers watch in sadness, visibly holding back tears as Coffey is executed. Back in the present, Paul tells Elaine that John's was the last execution that he and Brutal witnessed, as they both subsequently resigned from the prison and took jobs in the juvenile system.

Concluding his story, Paul reveals that Del's mouse Mr. Jingles is still alive, having been blessed with a supernaturally long life thanks to John's healing touch. He also reveals that he himself is now 108 years old, having been 44 at the time of John's execution. While Elaine sees Paul's long life as another of John's miracles, Paul speculates that it may be a divine punishment, and that he has been condemned to linger on Earth and outlive all of his loved ones for killing John. Paul is later shown attending Elaine's funeral, and muses on how much longer he has left to live.

REVIEW

Simply spell-bound after watching such a great film filled with supreme life messages and ideals. Although the kind of screenplay that's needed for this film is quite risky to execute and to keep a minimum success guarantee commercially, the output is a very very high quality version of any fantasy social drama that has come till date. Personally I feel this is the best fantasy/mysterical genre film I've ever seen.

 Performance wise I was disheartened after learning that Duncan didn't receive the Academy award for this and also for the film not receiving the Best Picture at the Academy awards. Soul touching performances by both Duncan and Tom. Also all the other officers in the Mile performed very naturally.

 The biggest positive that I felt in the film is that although the film is for 3 hrs, the screenplay is so interesting that we hardly feel the film is long at all. The main twist in the film comes when we realize that Duncan possesses supernatural powers.

 Technically, this film is a class. Needless to mention about Cinematography and music. They have done their work brilliantly.

 The film has supreme, deep and minute layers that can be understood and appreciated if the audience keely observes the story and follows it. Lots of technical detailing that connects to the story's theme and the story's progress perfectly. When that is recognized, one will have great respect for the film.

 Personally, I found the film both entertaining and thought provoking. So this film will cater to all the audience, the commercial ones, as it has many things for that like comedy and some amount of action. It will also entertain the non-commercial audience giving thought provoking messages and ideas.

The Green Mile is a MUST WATCH especially for those who would like to learn about Film making, crafting a story and writing a story stacked with layers perfectly.

Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Green_Mile_(film)