When looking back and pondering The Green Mile, the film based on the blockbuster Stephen King-penned book series of the same name, its resonance has only increased with the passage of time. In the movie world, the motion picture has done nothing but further engrained itself further into our collective cinematic DNA.
The good news to any soul who appreciates what director Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption) did with King’s released a chapter at a time book is that it is now released in a stunning 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray combo pack that is about as must-own as home video releases come.
This is the first time the Tom Hanks starring hurricane of emotions is on 4K and it is worth the wait. Hanks is Paul Edgecomb, one of the lead prison guards on death row in Maine during the Depression. Supporting the international icon is Academy Award nominee Michael Clarke as John Coffey, a prisoner staring death in the eye while still exuding extraordinary compassion and some could argue… magic. David Morse is a force of nature as prison guard stars as Brutus ‘Brutal’ Howell—who earns his name. Barry Pepper finds the sweet spot as Dean Stanton, also a prison guard, while Bonnie Hunt is Edgecomb’s doting wife. James Cromwell commands and is impeccably cast as the prison’s warden.
Doug Hutchison will make your skin crawl as inmate Percy Wetmore. He almost steals the movie, but this isn’t that kind of a movie. Even someone like Hutchison, who is just out of this world—in the end—just blends in with the rest of the ensemble. Sam Rockwell shows why he’s an eventual Oscar winner as “Wild Bill” Wharton. One cannot take their eyes off of Rockwell, no matter who he is sharing screen time with—even Hanks or the veteran, Harry Dean Stanton as a road hard and put-away wet inhabitant of The Green Mile, death’s row’s nickname. Legend Graham Greene shows a side of himself rarely seen on the screen in a role that truly shows the depth of this man’s gift.
The Green Mile was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The 1999 picture mostly centered on the goings-on of the title locale and those who live there, their fates, their crimes, and of course as it’s based on a book by King, it is rich with interpersonal connections that are rough and course, but also touching and enlightening. For example, there is something truly special about Coffey. He was convicted of the brutal murder of two young girls but the more he is on death row, the more Hanks’ Edgecomb commences to wonder how that is even possible. How can someone who is a healer, with some sort of supernatural of G-d given gift be capable of such a heinous crime?
With King’s story, Darabont’s script, and his direction, The Green Mile adds up to one of those once-in-a-lifetime movies that are universally adored and for a myriad of reasons, depending on the viewer. I love movies like that. It reminds us why we love this art form and how no matter the chaos of the world outside, there will always be a place where one can be taken away like King and Darabont do with The Green Mile.
The concepts of redemption and miracles are sprinkled throughout Darabont’s film and having the setting be death row, inherently that creates some fascinating interplay. This especially comes into play when the guards of The Green Mile can be a bit vicious themselves, which paints a complex picture of human ethics and the emotional connections made between the audience and the ensemble.
Hanks is sublime. When is he not? He rises to every role and that he has turned in another to-the-core performance so outstanding should surprise no one. His character has some baggage himself, and the connection he makes with Coffey, in my opinion, defines the entire film.
The sound and picture (especially) of The Green Mile show that Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) illustrates that they are the gold standard. This is the latest of a series of most-own classics that have gotten the 4K treatment from WB that are simply stellar including Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket, the transformative The Outsiders, and the entire Mad Max Anthology. With our televisions never sharper and possessing the depth to enhance the cinematic experience, WBHE and its 4K transfers have been flawless and The Green Mile is simply the latest.
When it comes to bonus features, there are no new featurettes. But what is included is as much of a must-watch as the previous. They offer insight into the making of the instant classic, Darabont’s working style, Duncan’s Screen Test (!), and even Tom Hanks’ Makeup Tests.
Full list of the bonus features for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment’s The Green Mile:
- Walking the Mile: The Making of The Green Mile Documentary
- Miracle and Mystery: Creating The Green Mile Featurette Gallery
- Also on Blu-ray: Additional Scenes
- Tom Hanks Makeup Tests
- Michael Clarke Duncan Screen Test
- The teaser trailer: A Case Study
- Theatrical Trailers
- Commentary by Frank Darabont
Film Grade: A+
Bonus Features: A