FILM OF THE WEEK

★★★★ The Green Mile (1999) 9.00pm, Saturday, RTÉ2

“I’ve done some things in my life I’m not proud of, but this is the rst time I’ve ever felt in real danger of hell.” Having made his mark with one Stephen King-penned prison yarn, The Shawshank Redemption, writer/ director Frank Darabont returned to similar terrain for his next movie. Set in the Deep South of the 1930s, The Green Mile stars Tom Hanks as a humane prison guard whose bailiwick includes death row (described by the incumbents in the phrase of the title). When the massive but gentle Michael Clarke Duncan arrives to spend his nal days, Hanks’ life is turned upside down. Not only does the new prisoner have all the hallmarks of the wrongfully accused, he also has supernatural healing powers. Combining elements of King’s earlier works, notably Shawshank and

The Dead Zone, The Green Mile is a powerful and moving tale featuring many stirring performances, notably from Hanks, Barry Pepper and the always reliable David Morse. The real star, though, is Duncan. The former LA bodyguard ( Will Smith and Jamie Foxx were among his clients) had impressed Bruce Willis so much with his performance in Armageddon that he personally rang Darabont to recommend him for the role of Big John Co ey (‘’like the drink, only not spelled the same’’). Brucie proved a good judge as Duncan was Oscar nominated for his performance. In addition to getting good performances from his actors, Darabont was particularly strong when it came to set-pieces – the barbaric ritual of the electrocution by chair, those healing sequences – and he had the courage to unfold his story slowly over time (187 minutes). The Green Mile is a ne yarn almost elevated into Shawshank status by Darabont. Almost, because some of the emotional sequences seem a tad forced and there is a musculus sub-plot which requires too much suspension of disbelief. Those quibbles aside, it’s a cracking yarn.