A mile long in life ...

There is not a lot of films that can be put on the spectator, making him really feel, empathize with fictional characters, taking them for living, real people. Photographed by Frank Darabont on the novel by Stephen King "Green Mile" - just a movie. It is noteworthy that this is the second appeal of this director to the prose of this writer. Earlier, making his debut as a director Darabont, he screened his story "Escape from Shoushenk" - in which it was told about the life in prison of the prison dungeons. The film became one of the hits of the season, had a stunning success both among spectators and critics, as well as a bunch of various nominations and awards - among which there are already 7 nominations for Oscar (agree - an impressive result for the debutant!). It is worth noting that in the next film, again shot by Stephen King's work, it says about life behind bars. True narrative is confined to a room, the so-called "E" block - in which the notorious scoundrels await the day of their execution. Despite the deprivation of the characters of the possibility of liberation or escape, the story written by the "King of Terror" does not let the reader, and subsequently the viewer, through a gradual acquaintance with the guards working in this institution, its inhabitants (among whom, like in Shoushenkok, ) and mysterious, incredible events taking place there. Again, the plot is built on the relationships of different people, some of which are at the will of the Rock on the different sides of the prison lattice. In addition to the fact that the action takes place in prison, this one and the previous film of Darabonta is united, sort of like an unconditional sympathy, which the spectators cause the fate of prisoners. Which, in all fairness, got their due. Stephen King distinguishes from the authors referring to the topic of the fundamental reluctance to use excuses and certain manipulations with the characters. He does not make them unfairly condemned, like the same Eddie Dufrain - the hero of "Shawshank's Escape". All the inhabitants of the "E" block committed their atrocities, which resulted in the death of innocent people - by malicious intent, or succumbing to despair, which pushed many decent citizens during the Great Depression to oppose the law, one way or another - but they are all convicted for the cause and are waiting for death. Day X. Then they will be put on an electric chair, and according to the law of the state, they will be given current by their bodies - until they part with life ... But telling the stories of these people, the viewer is convinced that this is mostly decent people, which are completely believed is understood to no longer commit the crime, but the court handed down the death sentence to all of them. Since the events take place 80 years ago, this explains why the law was so harsh - today these people would hardly be imprisoned for life, let alone the death penalty ... Watching the last days of life colorful and memorable characters, though dramatic, but interesting. Someone is trying to escape, someone is training a smart mouse named Mr. Jingle, and someone is helping others by performing real miracles ...

The narrative is built quite traditionally - it's novel: the old hero is a former guard, he remembers those events that radically changed his life. Played by two actors (in his youth - it's Tom Hanks, in his old age, Dabbs Greer) Paul Edgecomb - witnessed incredible things that can not be called otherwise than Miracle. During his story, the action is transferred from the present to the mid-30s, when two "suicide bombers" were brought to the prison "Cold Mountain" - a young homeless person nicknamed "Wild Bill", and a huge mentally retarded Negro named John Coffee. If everything was clear with the first from the very beginning - that same scoundrel (though his jerks over the guards, thanks to which he practically does not come out of the punishment cell - peculiar "detente with humor", so necessary for such an electrified psychological story); then the second - a mystery. How did he manage to get into the "death row" cell? The more guards recognize Coffee, the more convinced of his innocence. We can say that Coffee is the only unjustly condemned, but as the picture is viewed, involuntarily arise, quite obviously conceived by Stephen King associations with the Second Coming - and this already brings this character beyond the boundaries of the earthly notions of guilt and innocence. There is also an opinion that he will appear again, he will be crucified once again unprepared for life in peace and love by the crowd ... And this is not an obvious comparison - the hero of Michael Clarke Duncan heals from illnesses, resurrects from the dead (though only a mouse) and has the gift to see the past interlocutors, feeling bad people ...

A team of wonderful actors, some of whom have previously played in King's films, allows the story to be imbued with stories. In addition to the names of Hanks and Clark Duncan, this is Barry Pepper and David Morse (in the roles of the guards Dean and Brutus - "Beasts"), William Sadler (the inconsolable father of the murdered girls), Sam Rockwell (Wild Bill), Michael Jeter (Delacroix) Harry Dean - Stanton (an old snitch - a snitch on which to rehearse the execution ceremony), again met on the screen with his partner for Forrest Gump - Harry Sinise (lawyer Hammersmith) and Doug Hutchison (git and Percy slander), and other performers. The excellent work of the artists - directors, cameraman David Tattersola and composer Thomas Newman, the fine and master directing of Frank Darabont - all this together makes the "Green Mile" - not only one of the best "King" screen versions, but also films in general. By the heat of passion, by sentimental episodes and sympathy for the characters - this film is able to give odds to even such a machine for squeezing tears, like Cameron's "Titanic"! If you have not looked at the "Green Mile", then you can only envy, because all this range of emotions - you still awaits. This movie appears in Hollywood infrequently, and after viewing remains in memory, as well as settles forever in the soul ... In conclusion, you can agree with the hero, how sometimes there is a long green mile ...