The Green Mile (5 Stars)

After a week at the Stuttgart Fantasy Film Festival I've gone back to my normal film viewing. I couldn't resist watching "The Green Mile" again tonight. It's one of my favourite film. Some people have criticised it for being too long. It runs 180 minutes 35 seconds from the beginning to the end, not counting the final credits. Three hours sounds like a long time. Watching the film, there are many scenes that could be sped up. There are some scenes which could be removed altogether without spoiling the story. By saying that, I mean the story would still make sense after omitting a few scenes.  If the studio bosses had applied pressure a whole hour could have been cut from the film, but I assert that removing a single second from anywhere in the film would make the film less perfect than it is. There are many small details that you might forget because they have lesser significance, like the scenes of the chain gang or the faces of the old people in the retirement home, but everything is just where it ought to be. Here are a few screenshots from the dinner party at Paul Edgecomb's home.

Tom Hanks as Paul Edgecomb, the fatigued prison guard with the life of an innocent man on his conscience.

Bonnie Hunt as the loving wife who will support her husband whatever he decides.

David Pepper as the naive young prison guard with his whole life ahead of him.

David Morse as the seasoned, mature prison guard who carefully weighs the pros and cons of Paul Edgecomb's choices.

Jeffrey DeMunn as the elderly prison guard who would rather take the safe path.

These five actors have to be praised. Even their facial expressions reveal how their characters think. "The Green Mile" is a masterpiece on so many different levels.

Success Rate:  + 2.8

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