GOLDEN OLDIE 13: The Green Mile

 

Well, after subjecting myself (and you) to the slightly embarrassing but occasionally amusing trivia of Golden Oldie 12, I felt the need to, in a sense cleans my soul – so last night I watched The Green Mile (1991; directed by Frank Darabont, based on a story by – who else? – Stephen King.)  I tell you, man, this flic is HEAVY!  You’ve probably seen it already, but if not – it is deep and irretrievably into the supernatural.  Most of it takes place in what would now be called a prison ward for condemned prisoners.  The cast includes Tom Hanks (very good, as always), Sam Rockwell (excellent as the sort of nasty bastard you always hope never to meet in your lifetime), Michael Jeter as a poor little guy you root for, and a bunch of others too many to name who more than earn their money.

But the bedrock character here is played by Michael Clarke Duncan, portraying a simple giant imbued by providence with all possible kindness and compassion – and the supernatural ability to, in a sense, right wrongs - even to the ability to, in a sense,  thwart death.  Duncan, it turns out, at the time was 6’ 5” and weighed 315 lbs.; artful camera angles made him look even bigger.  Michael Clarke Duncan, in this movie, is simply magnificent.  Sadly, he died in 2012 at the age of 57.

And then, there is a mouse.

The critics liked this movie, and for once they were right.  It – and especially Duncan – got a lot of nominations and a few awards.  I’m not going to try to summarize the plot; anything I wrote would just make it sound stupid. Watch it yourself ($3.95 on Amazon Prime) and let the screen ambiance roll over you.  It will do you good.