Comments on: The Green Mile (1999) http://lookingcloser.org/2010/05/the-green-mile-1999/ The official website of Jeffrey Overstreet Tue, 26 Oct 2010 05:36:34 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jeremy Landes http://lookingcloser.org/2010/05/the-green-mile-1999/#comment-224462 Jeremy Landes Wed, 26 May 2010 04:46:08 +0000 http://lookingcloser.org/?p=76037#comment-224462 I can understand why you don't care for the film. Perhaps you had read the book first. I had not. The story did captivate me. I was surprised by the "bad death of Eduard Delacroix," astonished by the extra long life angle, moved by the Coffey characters "want to see me a picture show" and subsequent singing, and I'll never forget Sam Rockwell's wild man. Most of all, I think that I really appreciate a movie where the director has been allowed to explore one set for a very long time, like a play. It actually felt like this death row could be a comfortable, humane place of employment under Hanks' leadership. His employees in the film (except one) seemed to enjoy one another and their surroundings, too. The Green Mile remains a special film for me despite what I can see as cliches. I can understand why you don’t care for the film. Perhaps you had read the book first. I had not. The story did captivate me. I was surprised by the “bad death of Eduard Delacroix,” astonished by the extra long life angle, moved by the Coffey characters “want to see me a picture show” and subsequent singing, and I’ll never forget Sam Rockwell’s wild man. Most of all, I think that I really appreciate a movie where the director has been allowed to explore one set for a very long time, like a play. It actually felt like this death row could be a comfortable, humane place of employment under Hanks’ leadership. His employees in the film (except one) seemed to enjoy one another and their surroundings, too. The Green Mile remains a special film for me despite what I can see as cliches.

]]> By: Chris http://lookingcloser.org/2010/05/the-green-mile-1999/#comment-224223 Chris Mon, 17 May 2010 01:59:21 +0000 http://lookingcloser.org/?p=76037#comment-224223 On any given day, Frank Darabont's "The Shawshank Redemption" is my favorite movie ever made. I think that's what made me want to like "The Green Mile" so much...and I don't hate it at all. I think it's well-acted, beautifully-shot...I just don't think there's much truth behind it, and it's manipulative as all get out. . . although Darabont's next film, the Capra-corny "The Majestic," manipulated audiences even harder. I still think Darabont's best non-"Shawshank" movie is "The Mist," which is still terrifying and bleak and has one of the biggest gut-punch endings I've ever seen. But I remember sitting through all. three. hours. of "The Green Mile" and then the final line of dialogue was "And the Green Mile, it's oh so long..." And my only reaction? Yes, it sure was. On any given day, Frank Darabont’s “The Shawshank Redemption” is my favorite movie ever made. I think that’s what made me want to like “The Green Mile” so much…and I don’t hate it at all. I think it’s well-acted, beautifully-shot…I just don’t think there’s much truth behind it, and it’s manipulative as all get out. . . although Darabont’s next film, the Capra-corny “The Majestic,” manipulated audiences even harder. I still think Darabont’s best non-”Shawshank” movie is “The Mist,” which is still terrifying and bleak and has one of the biggest gut-punch endings I’ve ever seen.

But I remember sitting through all. three. hours. of “The Green Mile” and then the final line of dialogue was “And the Green Mile, it’s oh so long…” And my only reaction? Yes, it sure was.

]]>