108 yrs old Paul Edgecomb reminisces about his life in the Green Mile where he was in charge of executing prisoners who are on death row in the electric chair. He tells his experiences to his friend Elaine at the old age home.
Paul vividly remembers how a huge, burly animal-like dark prisoner John Coffey had healing powers and how he cured his urinary infection, saved a mouse Mr. Jingles’ life and gave a second life to his colleague’s daughter who was suffering from a brain tumor. John is such a wonderful human being whose character is in total contrast to his appearance.
There is also a jerky prison officer Percy who is sadistic and always wants to show his influence and contacts and he causes a lot of harm to a prisoner called Del even during Del’s execution. Percy is actually a very weak person and the way his life pans out in the end as a mentally retarded person is very apt.
Each of the prison inmates has his own story and the bonding between the mouse and Del is one of the real highlights of the movie. John is actually in the prison for a crime he didn’t commit and Paul is really filled with guilt for executing such a pure at heart and highly divine person. He leaves the job after this execution and so does his dear friend and colleague Brutal. Dean and Harry are the other prison officers who are also really good at heart and humane.
After being healed by John, both Paul and the mouse Mr. Jingles turn almost immortal.
- Tom Hanks turns in a restrained show as Paul, the E block chief in charge of the prisoners' execution.
- Michael Clarke Duncan, the huge John Coffey must rank among the most contrasting characters in movie history. Monstrous from the outside and so tender and divine inside. Great show.
- David Morse as Brutal, has a very soft face but a huge frame and is quite cute in fact. Good show again.
- Doug Hutchison succeeds in getting us to hate him, as Percy. He is a real jerk and he portrays this role very convincingly.
- Barry Peeper as Dean is another humane prison officer who succeeds in making a positive impact with his sober show.
- Every other character like the old Paul, the friend Elaine, the wife Jan, the prison officer Harry, the prisoner Del, even the mouse Mr.Jingles leave an impression too.
- The healing scenes are quite mystical and fascinating. That too when John coughs out some bee-like particles, it is really haunting.
VERDICT
A totally character driven film where each actor literally lives the role and succeed in engaging the viewer completely.
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