John Coffey

"John Coffey", so titled because of the central figure in the story of The Green Mile (Film). This is a personal subjective review.

A life long procrastinator... I have put off watching a show for close to a decade. And that is The Green Mile. It is a movie based on the namesake novel by Stephen King. I have watched three Stephen King's movie prior to this and they were Misery, Dolores Claiborne, and The Shining.

I have no defence for this procrastination except that this movie is pretty long standing at 3 hours and 8 minutes of reel time. And I like to be focused when I watch a movie. A movie is a piece of art, and I have never fell asleep during a movie, not even when I caught the unexpectedly slow moving Ad Astra... yes, the picturesque one starring Brad Pitt...

This 1999 production directed by Frank Darabont featured the really good looking and talented actors in DaviD Morse, Eve Brent, Bonnie Hunt, (the late) Michael Clarke Duncan and the very handsome young Tom Hanks.

John Coffey was the titular character of a death row inmate played by Michael Clarke Duncan and his story was told by Paul Edgecomb the prison guard played by Tom Hanks.

The story is a smooth collection of some quite provocative themes, a few of which are mortality, friendship, racism and poetic justice. I also enjoyed the admirable and fine interaction between friends and between couples depicted in the movie.

There's also a pretty moving monologue by Coffey as he was accompanied down the green mile, which was eloquently referred to at the very end of the movie when Paul considered his own monumental transgression.

Summary: A deeply touching story that is well told and despite the supernatural component, the very earthly and soul deep issues reaches your mind, heart and soul if you allow.