The Green Mile

Someone give Simon Cowell this mouses' number

I have to say, I think Stephen King is an ideas man, primarily.  I don't think he is a great writer. But then I expect great writing to take me deeper into a character's psychology than a film can ever do.  That's what I need books for - and I don't get it from Mr King.  I get a story.  I'm not even a tremendous fan of 'stories' in novels.  It sounds bizarre - but I rather believe that the greatest novel there could ever be, the platonic idea of a great novel, would be one which is riveting, but in which absolutely nothing happens.

Having said that, I do think Stephen King is a genius.  One of the great geniuses of the modern world, of the cinematic era we might say.  And I think that because of the ideas the ideas man has.  Sublime, amazing, fascinating, enrapturing ideas.

The combination of King and director Frank Darabont gave rise to something miraculously wonderful in The Shawshank Redemption, so it's appropriate that this thematic 'sequel'  puts its miracles front and centre.  One of the reasons the miraculous element of the plot works so well is that it's kept quiet for the first hour of the film.  It's an audacious move - I don't know if it comes from the novel itself, but it's very clever how John Coffey is pretty much an incidental character for the first third of the film.

When his power to heal becomes evident, the film changes gear - and that's a risky strategy because it could fall flat.  It could 'jar'.  But it doesn't - and plot strands laid down early, like the talented mouse, pay off satisfyingly later on, so the whole thing builds.

I almost can't think of another three hour film which gobbles up the time so quickly - it's a time machine of a movie - tightly plotted with great economy.  It makes a good argument for longer films actually - what is the hurry these days?  Most films clock in at 90 minutes.  For goodness sake, make them longer and allow them to develop (although you might want to bring back the intermission for the sake of our bladders).

But then again - some two hour films feel their running time.  Not every film can walk a Green Mile so quickly.  

Not a dry eye on the sofa by the end - if this film doesn't make you cry then try The Railway Children.  If you're still not crying by the end of that - check for a pulse, or at least check for tear ducts.

There is a miracle in this film alright - and it's not Coffey's power to heal.  In real life that kind of thing doesn't happen.  The miracle of The Green Mile is to convince us that it can.  It's the miracle of a wonderful story - well told.