Reel Critics

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Reel Critics column features movie critiques written

by community members serving on our panel.

‘The Green Mile’ will hold you spellbound.

Now residing in a senior citizen’s home, an elderly Paul Edgecomb (Dabbs

Greer), welling up with tears at the viewing of Ginger Rogers and Fred

Astaire in the classic film “Top Hat,” must confide in his friend, Elaine

(Eve Brent), a secret. An unbelievable bittersweet story of humanity’s

cruelty and courage under difficult circumstances slowly unfolds.

In Louisiana, outside the prison walls of Cold Mountain Penitentiary,

chain gangs sing soulful songs, while inside, a younger Edgecomb (Tom

Hanks), as death row’s head guard, strives to maintain dignity even for

the condemned. He, along with four other guards, watch over inmates

awaiting execution. Awaiting the long walk down the corridor to the

electric chair they have nicknamed “Old Sparky.”

At most prisons the walk is simply referred to as “the mile.” But at Cold

Mountain, because of the faded lime-green linoleum, it’s fondly referred

to as the “Green Mile.” Edgecomb, over the years, watched over a variety

of cons, escorting them down “The Green Mile.” He thought he had seen

everything, until 1935.

It was then he encountered John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), an

enormous black man convicted of murdering two young sisters. Coffey’s

simple-mindedness and mild-mannered demeanor, however, was a stark

contrast to the brutal crime. Coffey was even afraid of the dark. When

Edgecomb discovers that Coffey possesses a mysterious and magical gift,

he begins to question Coffey’s guilt.

Based on the 1996 best-selling novel by Stephen King, “The Green Mile” is

the third of King’s novels to be adapted and directed by Frank Darabont.

Unfortunately I can’t compare King’s novel with Darabont’s film because

the novel rests on my night stand and I’ve read only one chapter. (I’ve

only had it a couple of months.) But if King has such confidence in

Darabont, I don’t think that anyone will be disappointed. I certainly

wasn’t. Told in flashbacks and narrated by Edgecomb, “The Green Mile” is

a masterpiece in storytelling.

A high-quality film should be multifaceted. One aspect should not

overpower another. Like puzzle pieces, each aspect of the film --

writing, directing, performance, sound, cinematography and lighting --

should be similar in size but have unique angles and curves, so that when

they fit together they blend sinuously into one single picture and a film

worthy of an Academy nod.

“The Green Mile” is such a film. Although production designer Terence

Marsh scouted several Southern penitentiaries to research his death row

interiors, the set interiors were designed and built from scratch.

Utilizing tall cathedral ceilings to enclose the four-cell block, it gave

the confined area, typically dank, dark and foreboding, an aura of hope

and spirituality, which is more representative of “The Green Mile.”

Costume designer Karyn Wagner had a different challenge. While

researching the Depression, she found out that most prison guards, except

for Sing Sing, did not wear uniforms. Putting the guards in uniforms was

necessary to emphasize their authoritarian position over the inmates

along with their innate pride and acceptance of militarian discipline and

restraint.

Oscar buzz is already swarming around Hanks’ performance as he leads a

memorable ensemble cast. With Hanks and Duncan are David Morse as

“Brutal” Brutus Howell, Edgecomb’s kindhearted, right-hand man, Michael

Jeeter as Eduard “Del” Delacroix, a slight Cajun man that forms an

attachment to a mouse (Mr. Jingles), and Doug Hutchison as Percy Wetmore,

the spoiled-rotten abusive guard that everyone will love to hate. Of

course what can we expect with a name like Percy Wetmore. Rounding out

the cast are James Cromwell, Bonnie Hunt, Jeffrey DeMunn, Graham Greene,

Sam Rockwell, Barry Pepper, Patricia Clarkson, Harry Dean Stanton and

Gary Sinise in a cameo appearance.

Being set on death row, there are scenes of abhorrent cruelty. However,

in the face of such despair, there are also enchanting scenes. So for

three hours, I traveled a journey that touched every emotion imaginable.

I laughed. I cried. One time I was so angry that I even protested,

yelling at the screen. (Usually I behave better in public.) Full of

unexpected turns and twists and a lot of heart, “The Green Mile” will

hold you spellbound.

* JULIE LOWRANCE, 40, is a Costa Mesa resident who works at a Newport

Beach overnight aircraft advertising agency.

‘Mile’ has similarities to other movies

Based on a Stephen King novel and similar in many ways to “The Shawshank

Redemption,” another King story turned into a movie, “The Green Mile”

stars Tom Hanks as Paul Edgecomb, head guard on Louisiana’s Cold Mountain

Penitentiary death row, known as “The Green Mile” for its lime-colored

tile flooring.

“Mile” opens in present day with an old man (Dabbs Greer as an old

Edgecomb) wistfully flashing back to 1935 and his days at the

penitentiary. Here is where we come to know Edgecomb, his tightknit group

of fellow guards, the inmates on death row, and finally the pivotal

figure John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), a mountain of a black man,

convicted of the rape and murder of two young white girls.

Coffey, although incredibly huge, is remarkably timid and mentally

childlike. Later in the film we also come to know that he possesses a

miraculous power. The transcendent theme of the film is that of the

innocent suffering the sins of the evil. Good and evil, sin and

redemption -- pretty basic stuff. Even Coffey’s initials are the same (no

coincidence I’m sure) as another historical J.C. who took on the sins of

the world so that mankind would be saved.

Two-time Academy Award winner Hanks has become adept at playing decent,

honest, ethical and ordinary men placed in extraordinary circumstances.

The Jimmy Stewart of our time, Hanks scores a hit once again in “The

Green Mile.”

If there is one problem I have with this film it is that there are so

many similarities to other movies. Like “Shawshank,” this story is set in

prison and the pacing is slow and deliberate. It may be because

“Shawshank” and “Mile” share the same director and music composer in

Frank Darabont and Thomas Newman, respectively.

But then there are also the similarities to Hank’s last film, “Saving

Private Ryan.” “Mile” has a strong corps of guards, similar to the

soldiers in “Ryan,” and the fact that not unlike Lt. Horvath in Ryan,

Hanks has “Brutal” Brutus Howell (David Morse) as his man-of-few-words

muscle and faithful second in command. “Mile” even has the young guard

Dean Stanton played by Ryan’s scripture-quoting sharp shooter Barry

Pepper.

At just more than three hours long many people will be reticent to go see

this film. My recommendation is don’t be. Not once during the film did I

lose interest or become bored, and there are exceptional performances

from every one of the stellar supporting cast.

Rated R for scenes of graphic violence, including a stomach churning

electrocution scene, based on the Brunette scale of pay full price,

bargain matinee, video rental, wait for cable, or I’d rather be executed

than watch this film again, I give “The Green Mile” a very strong bargain

matinee.

* RICHARD BRUNETTE, 36, is a recreation supervisor with the city of Costa

Mesa and a Costa Mesa resident.

A film to ponder long after it’s over

After seeing “The Green Mile,” I just had to sit during the credits

and take it all in. In fact, virtually no one at my show jumped up and

left like at most movies.

This movie about death row in a Louisiana prison leaves you with a lot

to ponder.

Yes, Stephen King has done it again. In fact, this drama has virtually

all of the elements of a truly great movie: great storytelling, laughter,

tears, intensity, terror, fantasy, twists and turns in the plot,

extremely well-developed characters, and a wholesome message. Much of

this is due to a superb cast led by Tom Hanks, who plays a benevolent

death row guard overseeing the imprisonment and execution of several

prisoners.

Complementing Hanks is an actor I’ve never heard of -- Michael Clarke

Duncan -- whose performance turns out to be one of the most engaging

elements of the film.

You’ve got to see him for yourself, but this seven-foot-plus enormous

human being with the deepest voice I think I’ve ever heard (he might even

put James Earl Jones to shame) plays the part of a man who has been

convicted of molesting and killing two young girls. But from the first

time you meet him, you know that something is not right with this

conviction (the fact that this gigantic “killer” is afraid of the dark

provides the first clue).

You should know that this picture is 189 minutes long, but don’t let

that dissuade you. Its magic and emotional intensity provides a moving

experience that you won’t soon forget.

* BRADLEY KIRK, 32, is a Corona del Mar resident and civil litigation and

estate planning attorney.