The Green Mile (1999)

3h 9mins

7/10

First time watch

Period Drama – Tragedy – Mystery

A death row guard is thrown into turmoil when he begins to question whether the latest convict on his watch is truly guilty of the crimes that have condemned him to death.

I have avoided watching this film for a long time as I struggle to go into a film that is new to me knowing it’s going to be a tearjerker. Plus it’s very long, so you need to purposely carve out enough time to watch a 3 hour film in one sitting.

Having said that, I am glad that I have finally got around to watching this beautifully touching film.

Who wouldn’t love the gentle giant inmate, John Coffey ( Michael Clarke Duncan)? His innocent sweet nature is so endearing and has you just as puzzled as prison guard, Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks), as to how on earth he has been convicted of such horrendous crimes. I loved that although Paul knew the men on his ward had committed terrible crimes, he still saw them as worthy of being treated as fellow human beings the whole way up to their last moments.

I was taken by surprise by the supernatural element of the film, but found it interesting. I knew it was a Stephen King story, but I thought the darkness was going to come from it being set on death row and the use of the electric chair.

A thought-provoking reflection on the darkness within humanity, the terrible choices people make and the suffering we can cause one another, balanced by a powerful reminder of the importance of recognising the good in others and choosing kindness.

I’m not sure that I could say I’m racing to watch it again, not because it wasn’t good, but because it was a sad watch and the length of the film. I’m sure I will watch it again in a few years and wouldn’t say no if someone else wanted to watch it with me.

Would watch again