| | | Paul Edgecomb Didn't Believe in Miracles. Until the Day He Met One.
Features: DVD, Widescreen, English, French, Subtitled
Miracles happen in unexpected places, even in the death-row cellblock at Cold Mountain Penitentiary. There John Coffey, a gentle giant of a prisoner with supernatural powers, brings a sense of spirit and humanity to his guards and fellow inmates.Tom Hanks leads a stellar ensemble (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. That filmmaker is Frank Darabont, who returns after his 1994 directorial debut The Shawshank Redemption to adapt another tale by Stephen King into stirring, crowd-pleasing entertainment nominated for 4 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
"Unquestionably the best picture of the year." David Sheehan, CBS-TV
"...strong, moving performances and Darabont's durable storytelling make it a trip worth taking..." Janet Maslin, The New York Times
"Great filmmaking. Great story. Great storytelling." Joel Siegel, Good Morning America
"A reminder of just how good Hollywood storytelling can be." Jonathan Foreman, New York Post
"Thumbs up!" Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Editor's Note
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.
Plot Summary
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.
| Features | Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound | | Behind-The-Scenes Documentary: Walking The Mile | | Interactive Menus | | Original Theatrical Trailer | | Production Notes | | Scene Selection | | Subtitles: English, French |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Castle Rock HM Video |
| Release Date: 11/11/2008 |
| Original Release Date: 1999 | | Catalog ID: 2733 | | UPC: 00053939273328 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Winner (2001) | | | People's Choice, The Green Mile, Favorite Dramatic Motion Picture | | | People's Choice, The Green Mile, Favorite Motion Picture | |
Nominee (2000) | | | Golden Globe, Michael Clarke Duncan, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture | | | Image Award, Michael Clarke Duncan, Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture | | | MTV Award, Michael Clarke Duncan, Breakthrough Male Performance | | | Oscar, Michael Clarke Duncan, Best Actor in a Supporting Role | | | Oscar, Frank Darabont, David Valdes, Best Picture | | | Oscar, Robert J. Litt, et. al., Best Sound | | | Oscar, Frank Darabont, Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published |
| Memorable Quotes| "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 |
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| | Professional Reviews | Variety
"...[A] powerful and meticulously crafted drama....Hanks excels..." 11/29-12/5/1999 p.56-70Entertainment Weekly
"...[Hanks] is on par with his career-best work....A long walk to a worthwhile destination..." -- Rating: A- 06/16/2000 p.67 Chicago Sun-Times
"...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..." 12/10/1999 p.35 ReelViews 8 of 10
"For his second movie behind the camera, director Frank Darabont has returned to familiar territory. As was the case with The Shawshank Redemption, his previous outing, Darabont has found the basis of his latest in a product of the prolific pen of Stephen King. However, while The Green Mile also takes place in a prison environment, this story introduces an element that was absent from The Shawshank Redemption: the supernatural. And, unlike most King-inspired motion pictures, this is not a horror film. Instead, it's a story of redemption and an affirmation that miracles can be found in the most improbable of places. That makes The Green Mile a dour movie with an uplifting message...Darabont's manipulation is skillful, but it's also apparent. The Green Mile is one of those ""not a dry eye"" in the theater motion pictures...Nevertheless, it is reasonable to point out that, taken on its own terms, i>The Green Mile works; it is an affecting motion picture." - James Berardinelli
Reel.com 8 of 10
"On the surface, The Green Mile is shameless Oscar bait. It's got Tom Hanks sporting a Forrest Gump-y accent. It's directed by Shawshank Redemption helmer Frank Darabont and based on Shawshank author Stephen King's novella series. It borrows Dead Man Walking's hot-button issue -- the death penalty -- and revolves around a pasteurized African-American saint a la Driving Miss Daisy. It's got the soft camerawork of Quiz Show, the gentle soundtrack of Good Will Hunting, and old-timer flashbacks lifted straight from Saving Private Ryan. Hell, it screams ""tearjerker!"" so loudly, they should hand out souvenir Kleenex packs at the ticket counter...At the core, The Green Mile is one of the most moving films of the year...If all this heartstring-tugging reeks of cheese, that's because it is -- the finest gourmet cheese Hollywood's made in a long, long time." - Tor Thorsen
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