The Green Mile (1999)

Another great prison movie, again from Frank Darabont. A definite Oscar consideration. I’m really becoming a fan of his work.

The acting and casting is perfect all around. Hanks is pretty good. He looks like a fat toad, but he knows how to do drama. Sometimes I wish he would return to comedy just to show us all that he can still do it. Lister, Percy, and Wild Bill are fantastic.

Same “old man telling a story” bookend structure as Saving Private Ryan and Titanic. It works pretty well.

The only complaint I might have with the film is the CGI shots of the dusty shit coming out of Listers mouth. It’s amazing how a lousy CGI shot can rip you out of a dramatic moment. Maybe they could have avoided the CGI by using simple physical contact and some sound effects, as in Fallen, to indicate the transfer of Lister’s power.