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.
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.
Theatrical release: December 10, 1999.
Most of the film was shot on the soundstage on the set of Cell Block E, the film's death row cell. The remaining scenes were shot in Nashville Tennessee, and Blowing Rock, North Carolina.
Tom Hanks elected to bulk up, weight-wise, for this film so that he seemed intimidating as a prison warden.
Although Michael Clarke Duncan had previously appeared in films such as FRIDAY and BULWORTH, his role in THE GREEN MILE dramatically raised his profile.
Certain VHS and DVD versions include the behind-the-scenes documentary WALKING THE MILE.
THE GREEN MILE won People's Choice Awards for Favorite Motion Picture and Favorite Dramatic Motion Picture at the January 2001 ceremonies.
Excerpt: "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
DVD Features:
2-Disc Set
Region 1
Keep Case
Special Edition
Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Dolby Digital 5.1 - French
Subtitles - English, French, Spanish
Additional Release Material:
Trailers
Bonus Footage
Audio Commentary: Frank Darabont - Director
Featurette:
1. "Walking the Mile: The Making of The Green Mile"
2. "Miracles and Mystery: Creating the Green Mile"
Distributor Notes: Green Mile, The: Special Edition
Miracles happen in unexpected places, even on death row at Cold Mountain Penitentiary. There John Coffey, a prisoner with supernatural powers, brings a sense of spirit and humanity to his guards and fellow inmates. Tom Hanks leads a stellar cast (including Michael Clarke Duncan as Coffey) in this emotional, uplifting story of guards and captives; husbands and wives; prisoners and a remarkable mouse named Mr. Jingles; and, on another level, of a moviemaker and his source. Frank Darabont returns after his 1994 directorial debut The Shawshank Redemption to adapt another Stephen King tale into a crowd-pleasing entertainment nominated for four Academy Awards?, including Best Picture.
Source: Warner Home Video
Director of Photography
David Tattersall:
Production Designer
Terence Marsh: Prod. Designer/Writer
Source Writer
Stephen King: Best-selling horror novelist, THE STAND miniseries (1994)
Costume Designer
Karyn Wagner:
Review 1:
"...[Hanks] is on par with his career-best work....A long walk to a worthwhile destination..." -- Rating: A-
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.67 06/16/2000
Review 2:
"...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..."
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
p.35 12/10/1999
Review 3:
"...[A] powerful and meticulously crafted drama....Hanks excels..."
Source: Variety
p.56-70
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