Plot: What’s it about?
Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) was once the head guard at Cold Mountain, a prison in Louisiana, where he oversaw the prisoners on death row. The job wasn’t one that offered many bright moments, but 1935 was a unique time, as Cold Mountain had a most unusual guest. As Edgecomb battled a painful bladder condition and dealt with having a bad seed in his normally solid crew, the prison gets a new inmate, John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan). Coffey is a big black man convicted of the rape and murder of two young white girls, a crime certain to earn him the sentence of death. But even when he first arrives, it is obvious to everyone that Coffey stands out and not in the typical way a criminal would. He is able to bond with the other prisoners and even the guards, except for the crew’s bad seed, who happens to the governor’s nephew. It becomes clear that Coffey is a gifted man, when he brings a mouse back from the dead, then cures Edgecomb of his bladder problems. Even as he shows his healing abilities and helps bring a true sense of humanity to the prison, the date of his execution remains in place. But will he inspire those around him to consider the possibility of his innocence, or will he be passed off as a con man trying to save his own neck?
I think I have been unfair to The Green Mile. As the film shares the same source author, setting, and director as The Shawshank Redemption, I set a high standard. As good as The Green Mile is, it isn’t on the same level as that movie, despite the common threads. But I shouldn’t have been disappointed, as the movie is quite good and when viewed on its own merits, more than holds its own. The story being told is an excellent one, one that takes a while to unfold, but is rich and worth the investment. The film’s duration is almost three hours and some spots do slow down, but by and large, the pace is well handled. A lot of time is taken to develop the characters, even the minor ones, so once the story really begins to roll, we have reason to care what happens. The story has genuine emotion and a lot of powerful moments, but without the use of blatant melodrama. As far as supernatural presence, there is a tinge to be found, but Stephen King’s involvement doesn’t equal an eerie thriller, as evidenced by The Shawshank Redemption. The performances are wonderful here, from Michael Clarke Duncan’s superb effort to Tom Hanks’ usual solid work to a supporting cast that includes David Morse, Harry Dean Stanton, Patricia Clarkson, James Cromwell, Bonnnie Hunt, Sam Rockwell, and others. The Green Mile is a highly recommended film and this new Special Edition is one all fans will want to own.
Video: How does it look?
The Green Mile is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. The previous transfer was compressed onto a single disc, but this time, the movie is spread across two platters. This removes the compression woes found on the first transfer, with a much higher bit rate. The movie is so much sharper and refined here, the hazy visuals of the original are nowhere to be found. Instead, we have high detail and a clean, crisp presentation, this is a very impressive revisit. Not just that, but colors are richer and show more depth, while contrast is more accurate, so this one is revamped in all respects. At the time, the original sported a decent transfer, but this is an enhancement in every way, so fans should be thrilled.
Audio: How does it sound?
The same Dolby Digital 5.1 option has been ported over, but that is good news, as the soundtrack is more than solid. The rear channels are used perfectly, active when the movie requires it and silent when not needed. I dislike when movies amp up the surrounds just to show off, but this soundtrack puts the rears to great use, to add to the experience, not distract from it. The result is a realistic atmosphere, bolstered by a wonderful musical score that really shines here. The basic sound effects come across well, with just enough presence, while dialogue is clean and never suffers from errors of any kind. This release also includes a French 5.1 option, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This is what fans have waited for, a host of supplements that begin with director Frank Darabont’s audio comments. I didn’t think one speaker could hold a session for almost three hours, but Darabont does so and shares a lot of worthwhile information. He covers the entire production, from adapting the story for the screen to the casting process to anecdotes from the shoot. He is candid, but well spoken and takes us inside the production, with stories fans will be delighted to take in. Walking the Mile runs under half an hour and is promotional in nature, but still has some good interviews. A better look behind the scenes is provided in a collection of six featurettes that combine to offer a duration of almost two hours. You will hear some of the same stories and anecdotes at times, but this is an exhaustive look at how The Green Mile was produced. This release also includes some deleted scenes, two screen tests, and two of the film’s theatrical trailers.
