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Written by: Stephen King (novel). Frank Darabont (screenplay)
Directed by: Frank Darabont
Starring: Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan, David Morse, James Cromwell, Doug Hutchison, Sam Rockwell, Barry Pepper, Jeffrey DeMunn, Patricia Clarkson, Harry Dean Stanton, Gary Sinise
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
The lives of guards on Death Row are affected by one of their charges, a black man accused of child murder and rape, yet who has a mysterious gift.
Verdict
This is just as good as I remember it, if not better. It may be three hours, but it
doesn't feel like it. A great story and writing carry this, each scene
building on the last until the conclusion. We feel exactly what this intends every step of the way. It's a fantastical story that never feels unbelievable. There are quite a few characters, but they are each unique enough and compliment the story. It's well made, and the writing is exceptional.
Watch It.
Review
Based on Stephen King's 1996 novel of the same name, Darabont's prior film, The Shawshank Redemption, was an adaptation of King's novella. John Travolta and Shaquille O'Neal were originally offered the lead roles, but this proved to be Michael Clarke Duncan's breakout role.
This opens with a man in a retirement home which will mean a lot more at the end of the movie. He's touched by a song on television and begins to tell a friend about his time as a guard on death row, flashing back to the story proper. Paul (Tom Hanks) doesn't know what to think about the newest prisoner, John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan). He's giant but seems nice, even gentle. What did he do to end up there?
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| Tom Hanks plays Paul Edgecomb |
The movie takes its time showing us small moments like a practice for an execution and a mouse that entertains the inmates.. One of the guards, Percy (Doug Hutchison) seems a bit unhinged. We're given a few reasons not to like him, and he only reinforces that. He's the self centered sort that doesn't realize people are mean to him because he's a colossal jerk. Paul and the rest of the staff see their job as to make it easier on the inmates, keeping them stable during a stressful time. You can push people until they break or treat them right to abate problems. Percy sees the job as an opportunity to torture people. We eventually learn that Percy is all talk. In a dangerous moment he freezes. What makes Percy dangerous is that he takes out his frustrations on the inmates. Inmate Billy (Sam Rockwell) knows Percy is all talk and never misses a chance to harass him. Percy in turn harasses others.
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| David Morse, Michael Clarke Duncan, Jeffrey DeMunn play Brutal, John Coffey, Harry |
Half way in, this doesn't feel as long as you'd think. While all of these characters add length, it also provides context for the movie and how this place operates. We get to see the care most of the guards put into their job despite how grueling it must be. Paul is nice to all of the inmates, and it's a shock when John grabs Paul. We don't know what we just saw, even Paul isn't sure. Soon we realize that John is gifted. The big question is how such a thing is possible. Paul becomes curious and researches John.
This story is so well crafted. We and Paul know about John's gift, but no one else does. What else can John do? This movie builds perfectly, all the pieces having a purpose, even Percy. Each element has a purpose and that's what makes this good, giving the ending such impact. These experiences affected Paul and his career. This cuts back to the present. The old man in the beginning is Paul. He complains about his curse, a punishment for his wrongs. What many would see as a blessing, Paul explains why it isn't. It's a great ending to a movie that's built this story just right, maximizing the impact of a conclusion that doesn't need to be over the top. The implications are more than enough.
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