Film Review: THE GREEN MILE (1999)

Director: Frank Darabont
Writers: Stephen King (novel), Frank Darabont (screenplay)
Running time: 181 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 18

Genre: Crime/Drama/Fantasy
UK Release date: 3^rd March 2000

Watched on DVD Sunday 21^st October 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Partly because I love this film and partly as a bit of a tribute to the actor Michael Clarke Duncan who sadly passed away last month, I opted for ‘The Green Mile’ for my Sunday viewing this week. I did have another film in mind but couldn’t find the disc, which was a tad frustrating, but it led me to this film instead and I must say I’m really glad it did! As a fan of the novels of Stephen King I do try to see any movie adaptations of his work; usually with varying results. Fortunately this one was directed by Frank Darabont so I knew we were in safe hands. I have to say, for the record, I have seen it before but that was some years ago now. Here’s a very brief summary before I give you my thoughts.

We begin in a retirement home where an old man, Paul Edgecomb, begins to relate a story about the year 1935 when he was prison guard at the Cold Mountain Correctional Facility. They call Death Row “The Green Mile” because of the dark green linoleum that tiles the floor, and that’s where Edgecomb had charge. His fellow guards included; Brutus ‘Brutal’ Howell, Dean Stanton, Harry Terwilliger and Percy Wetmore who used his family connections to keep the job despite his total lack of compassion for it. This was the year that one John Coffey was to come to the Mile and he was going to affect everyone’s life there. There was something very special about John, something that would be hard to explain and so I won’t try; I’ll leave you to watch the film and make up your own mind about it.

Very well made with a beautifully understated musical score by Thomas Newman, it underpins the action perfectly and works very well. All the performances were great; particularly Michael Clarke Duncan who fully deserved his 2000 Oscar nomination for his portrayal of John Coffey. As usual, Tom Hanks puts in a flawless performance as Paul Edgecomb (the younger version of course). Also worthy of note were; David Morse as Brutus ‘Brutal’ Howell, Bonnie Hunt as Edgecomb’s wife, Jan, James Cromwell as Warden Hal Moores, Michael Jeter as Eduard Delacroix, Graham Greene as Arlen Bitterbuck, Doug Hutchison as Percey Wetmore, Sam Rockwell as ‘Wild Bill’ Wharton, Barry Pepper as Dean Stanton and Jeffrey DeMunn as Harry Terwilliger. Oh and not forgetting the mouse (or mice) who appeared as ‘Mr Jingles’.

The film has quite a slow pace that allows the audience to become familiar with the characters and the comings and goings on ‘The Mile’. With most of the action taking place in the one location I thought the director did a good job of using different angles and even the odd special effect to keep it visually interesting. Because you become so invested in the characters, it is three hours long after all, it does tend to get a bit emotional towards the end. This is probably one of the reasons I love this film so much. Stephen King does write such well rounded and interesting characters and Frank Darabont has the knack of being able to translate them to the screen. In my book this is one of the very best adaptations of King’s work and one that will stay with me for a very long time.

SteelMonster’s verdict: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

My score: 9.1/10

IMDb Score: 8.5/10 (based on 349,346 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0120689/

MetaScore: 61/100: (Based on 36 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 80/100 (based on 132 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 93/100 ‘Liked it’ (based on 719,255 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/green_mile/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Old Paul Edgecomb: They usually call death row the Last Mile, but we called ours the Green Mile, because the floor was the colour of faded limes. We had the electric chair then. Old Sparky, we called it. I've lived a lot of years, Ellie, but 1935 takes the prize. That was the year I had the worst urinary infection of my life. That was also the year of John Coffey and the two dead girls.

Paul Edgecomb: Your name is John Coffey?
John Coffey: Yes sir boss. Like the drink, only not spelled the same.

Paul Edgecomb: What did you just do to me?
John Coffey: I helped it. Didn't I help it? I just took it back, is all. Awful tired now, boss. Dog tired.

John Coffey: I'm smellin' me some cornbread.
Paul Edgecomb: It's from my mises. She wanted to thank you.
John Coffey: Thank me for what?
Paul Edgecomb: Well, you know...
[whispering]
Paul Edgecomb: For a helping me.
John Coffey: Helping you with what?
Paul Edgecomb: You know.
[Paul points to his groin]
John Coffey: [John smiles] Ohh. Was your misses pleased?
Paul Edgecomb: [Paul nods] Several times.

Bill Dodge: I think this boy's cheese has done slid off his cracker.

Paul Edgecomb: John, do you know where we're taking you?
John Coffey: Help a lady?
Brutus "Brutal" Howell: That's right. But how do you know?
John Coffey: Don't know. To tell the truth, Boss, I don't know much'o anything.

Paul Edgecomb: On the day of my judgment, when I stand before God, and He asks me why did I kill one of his true miracles, what am I gonna say? That it was my job? My job?
John Coffey: You tell God the Father it was a kindness you done. I know you hurtin' and worryin', I can feel it on you, but you oughta quit on it now. Because I want it over and done. I do. I'm tired, boss. Tired of bein' on the road, lonely as a sparrow in the rain. Tired of not ever having me a buddy to be with, or tell me where we's coming from or going to, or why. Mostly I'm tired of people being ugly to each other. I'm tired of all the pain I feel and hear in the world everyday. There's too much of it. It's like pieces of glass in my head all the time. Can you understand?
Paul Edgecomb: Yes, John. I think I can.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer:

Film Review: THE GETAWAY (1994)

Director: Roger Donaldson
Writers: Jim Thompson (novel), Walter Hill & Amy Holden Jones (screenplay)
Running time: 115 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 18

Genre: Action/Adventure/Crime
UK Release date: 1^st July 1994

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 9^th June 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

To be honest, I can’t remember how this one got recommended to be but I must try so I can thank the person(s) responsible by shaking them warmly by the throat. By no means a film of any great note, but then I guess you have to see a turkey now and then so you don’t forget just what they look like. I will tell you more of my thoughts after this very brief summary.

When a job goes wrong, professional thief Carter ‘Doc’ McCoy finds himself in a Mexican prison. He persuades his wife, Carol, to cut a deal with crime boss, Jack Benyon, in order to get him out. As part of the payment for this deal Doc has to pull a job for him. Benyon has picked a team consisting of the man the double-crossed Doc in Mexico, Rudy Travis, and a young kid, Frank Hansen. Before they pull the job, Doc tells Carol it will be their last; he wants out of the business. The job goes pretty well and they meet up to divide the loot. There are double crosses upon double crosses at this point but needless to say, Doc and Carol end up on the run with cops and bad guys on their tail… Can they make it? Well I guess that would be a bit of a spoiler and them Spoiler Police (Mexican Division) aren’t as easy to bribe as they used to be.

Well shot with some nice stunt work; sadly the script didn’t live up to the mechanics of the filmmaking (more on that later). As far as performances go, well everyone did a pretty good job; Alec Baldwin was rough and tough as Carter ‘Doc’ McCoy and Kim Basinger did pretty well as Carol. Michael Madsen (with one of the great mullets) was pretty hateful as Rudy Travis and James Woods was masterful, as ever, as the evil Jack Benyon. Also worthy of note were; David Morse as Jim Deer Jackson, Jennifer Tilly as Fran Carvey, Richard Farnsworth as Slim and finally, sadly underused, Philip Seymour Hoffman as Frank Hansen (blink & you’ll miss him).

A film that tries to deal with some quite adult themes but in the end falls quite short of the mark. There is just too much going on, the main characters are not likeable enough and there’s just no charisma between them. When I find myself looking at my watch I know it’s a very bad sign and my watch has seldom been looked at quite so much. On the plus side, I did like the performance of James Woods, he was particularly loathsome; the trouble is, there wasn’t enough of him. A poor effort over all; an A-list cast but a bit of a B-list movie I’m afraid… NOT RECOMMENDED.

My score: 5.2/10

IMDb Score: 5.5/10 (based on 9,314 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0109890/

MetaScore: NO DATA: (Based on 0 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 33/100 (based on 21 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 30/100 ‘Want to See’ (based on 8,439 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1047985-getaway/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Rudy Travis: It's been my experience that having friends is overrated.

Fran Carvey: What's the plan?
Rudy Travis: The plan is shut up.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site (FR): http://www.martyrs-lefilm.com/
Trailer:

Film Review: DISTURBIA (2007)

Director: D.J. Caruso
Running time: 100 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Mystery/Thriller
UK Release date: 14^th September 2007

Watched on Sky+ Tuesday 14^th June 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is one of those films that I really didn’t know too much about before hitting the ‘Play’ button. I had a vague idea from the write-up, but didn’t expect what turned up on the screen. What I got was effectively an updated version of Hitchcock’s Rear Window (1954). It did have some good aspects to it, but over all I found it quite disappointing. I will explain why after this brief summary.

Kale, a high school teenager has had a hard time of it since his father died a year ago. It all comes to a head one day when he punches his Spanish teacher in class. He is sentenced to three months’ house arrest. He has to wear an ankle bracelet and if he wanders too far from the house an alert is sent to the police and they will respond immediately. Finding himself home alone most of the time, Kale gets bored and begins to watch the comings and goings of his neighbours. A new family moves in next door and he immediately takes an interest in the daughter, Ashley. His friend Ronnie comes around and they hang out together. They hear a report of a serial killer who may be in the area and Kale’s suspicions turn to another of his neighbours, Mr. Turner. He fits the bill perfectly, but how to prove it? Ashley and Ronnie help him, but Turner is getting suspicious and has taken an interest in Kale’s mother, Julie. Is Mr. Turner really a serial killer, if so, can they prove it before Kale’s mom becomes the next victim? No clues here, this bracelet around my ankle will go off.

I thought the plot was ok, but I guess I’m not really the target audience as the focus is very much on the younger members of the cast. Unfortunately Shia LaBeouf was in the leading role of Kale. He really has zero charisma and has very little screen presence (IMO); consequently, I found this one a little hard to watch. Sarah Roemer played Ashley, she did a decent enough job, but appeared to be there mostly as eye-candy. Carrie-Anne Moss played Julie and I was surprised to see her in such a small part… she deserves better (IMO). For me, the star turn was David Morse as Mr. Turner, very intimidating but also very charming when needed. Finally, Aaron Yoo was Ronnie, the clown of the piece if you like.

As I said at the beginning, I found this film quite disappointing and I think the problem was that I found it very hard to sympathise with any of the characters, particularly Kale. The script seemed to lack any originality and so the whole film suffered as a consequence. It wasn’t all bad though, it did have its tense moments and these where handled very well. Over all though, I found it pretty unsatisfying… Not recommended.

My Score: 5.5/10

LINKS:
(RT=Rotten Tomatoes)
IMDb Page: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0486822/
RT Page: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/disturbia/
Official Site: http://www.disturbia.com/
Trailer:

Film Review: 16 BLOCKS (2006)

Director: Richard Donner
Running time: 98 mins (approx)
Certificate (UK): 12

UK Release Date: 28th April 2006

Watched on DVD Monday 7th June 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: POSSIBLE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I had not heard much about this film before I watched it. It had been lurking in my DVD collection for some time before I decided it was time it got an airing. I got it on a whim, you know, ‘it’s got Bruce Willis in it so it can’t be that bad’, kind of thing. And now I’ve watched it it’s turned out to be a pretty good purchase. But I digress, here’s a little about the plot before I tell you what I thought of it.

Detective Jack Mosley is a broken down cop, he drinks and does as little as possible to get through each day. He’s just finished a night shift when his Lieutenant persuades him to do one last job, get a felon from the precinct to the Courthouse. 16 blocks in two hours. Little does Jack know that this little job will uncover things certain people would rather kept quiet. The criminal is a young guy called Eddie Bunker who’s wanted to testify before a Grand Jury. It’s only when someone tries to kill him en route to the Courthouse that Jack discovers exactly what he knows. It seems Eddie has evidence of a senior officer taking bribes and a lot of other cops involved in the scheme are out to silence the witness. As you can imagine this makes things really tough for Jack. I think that’s enough about the plot, don’t want to give too much away.

I found this a very thought provoking whist at the same time a very entertaining film. Well made with the streets of New York looking great as they always do. Great performances from the entire cast, in particular I liked the performance of Bruce Willis as Det. Jack Mosley. I thought Mos Def was really engaging as Eddie Bunker, although I did find his accent a little hard to follow at times. Also, David Morse stood out as the Mosley’s ex-partner who is leading the pursuit and plays a really unpleasant bad guy.

This is a film about redemption. The Jack Mosley character has given up because he has no purpose in life. During the film he finds a purpose and in the end does the right thing. It’s one of the best performances I’ve seen from Bruce Willis in years, very understated and very poignant. Over all, as I’ve already said, I found the film both thought provoking and entertaining and as such I can also recommend it.

My score: 7.6/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0450232/
Official Site: http://www2.warnerbros.com/16blocks/index.html
Trailer/Featurette: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/screenplay/vi3182625049/