Death row is generally referred to as the last mile; in Louisiana in the 30's, one death row had a floor the color of pale limes, so they called it THE GREEN MILE. It's a mile that is run by Paul Edgecomb and his stolid side-kick, "Brutal" The pair take their jobs seriously, treating their inmates with respect and loving care. The Green Mile is a place where the guards outnumber the prisoners, and the atmosphere is orderly and calm.
Into this establishment come three major disruptions. First, a young whipper-snapper guard named Percy, who has a severe case of small man syndrome. The nephew of the governor's wife, Percy wants to inflict pain and suffering on others to make him feel important. Then there's John Coffey, an inmate accused of murder. He's an enormous man, but he's afraid of the dark. He also has a special gift. Finally, comes "Wild Bill" Wharton, another inmate, and one that better fits the stereotype of a deathrow convict. Of all the characters in the movie, it often seems that Wharton is the only one with a pulse.
The acting is first rate. Tom Hanks as the Death Row chief is excellent. And he is ably supported by David Morse as Brutal. When my terminal day arrives, I hope two rocks of Gibraltar such as these are there to ease my way. Michael Clarke Duncan plays John Coffey with stoicism, and Doug Hutchison and Sam Rockwell play the two bad boys with vigor.
Most interesting, however, are the elements of "Magic Realism," in the film. Used to describe a mingling of the mundane with the fantastic, "magic realism" often entails a dreamlike quality. And it's the dreamlike feature that director Frank Darabont seems to emphasize. At times the actors move as if some other force is pulling their strings. At others there's a dreadful reality that you can almost smell. While death row is anything but ordinary, the guards of this particular death row try to keep each day calm and uneventful. A striking contrast to the fantastic gift of John Coffey.
I very much enjoyed The Green Mile. I was happily lured into the story, even though the film is slow from beginning to end. And while there are signposts to indicate where the plot is heading, there are also many surprises along the way. I also had no problem with even the most far-fetched reaches of the plot, which, for me, meshed with the whole aura of magic realism.
A word of warning, however, there is a particularly nasty execution scene that is not for those with weak stomachs. You may also prefer to lay off the caffeine before and during the film, since the trance-like pace is not for the hyperactive.
I not only enjoyed the film thoroughly, I also took the moral to heart. Respect is a mighty good motto for life.