THE GREEN MILE 4.0***

               Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption) directs his second film and second, and in my opinion, one of the best Stephen King adaptations with The Green Mile. The film centers on Death Row at a Southern penitentiary known as 'the green mile' due to the dark green floor. The time is 1935 during the post-depression. Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) is the head guard on the Green Mile when the towering new inmate John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), convicted of murdering two young girls, is brought into custody. Despite his huge figure and supposed horrific crimes, Coffey seems to be of a more gentle nature, like that of a child, not a child killer. After some time Edgecomb starts to notice miraculous things coming from Coffey, leading to questions about whether Coffey could be capable of the terrible things to which he has been convicted

Director Darabont doesn’t rush this film, which clocks in at three hours  which is not a bad thing because it allows the characters to be developed and the story to build. Darabont delivers precision in his direction and manages to immerse the audience in the death row setting, using the flashback device to ease into the story. Plenty going on during the film including some vile horrible characters, both guard and convict, as well as many acts kindness and generosity.

The acting throughout this film is awesome with Tom Hanks leading the way, allowing the film to flow smoothly, keeping the audience listening and watching which is definitely needed due to the length of the movie. Michael Clarke Duncan perfectly portrays the friendly giant John Coffey, successfully giving off a combination of innocence and mystery. Furthermore, the supporting cast, which includes Sam Rockwell, David Morse and James Cromwell, is also excellent. In fact this is one of the best ensemble casts you’ll find in a movie.

This movie is a triumph as an incredible story and an incredible movie that tells the story. It’s a beautiful emotional film that is perfectly done.

Rated R for violence (the electric chair executions are quite realistic and graphic ) and language and some sex-related material (very mild) |

 

My Cousin Vinny”. (1992) 4.0****

Another “oldie but goodie ”that is one of Sara & my all-time favorites !! It is in my top 15 of legal movies .... actually #3.

Joe Pesci’ character  is called upon by his Nephew to defend him & his friend from a charge of robbery/murder in Alabama... rural Alabama. His character has a legal degree thru night school and passed the bar exam ... not the 1st time ... not the 3rd time .. but it took 6 times !!! And he had not yet had a trial civil or criminal  yet he is being called upon to defend the 2 boys in a capital murder trial .

The Director was a lawyer & insisted that all the trial scenes/legal matters be correct & accurate .... and were to the extent that the American Bar Association ranks this movie #3 in their top 25 legal movies.

The story is hilarious and yet an excellent trial movie ... so good that I think law schools should require law students to watch it . The humor is primarily generated by and between Pesci and his fiancé played by Marisa Tomei who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.  They are both from New Jersey & speak heavy “ Jersey”. Their scenes range from a “debate” about a leaking spigot, her defense of not killing a “dearr” ( deer) and the matter of her biological clock  for having babies ticking away ... and on & on !

You really should see this movie...I guarantee that you will like it !!!