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The Resurgence of ‘The Green Mile’ on Tubi
The Green Mile, a haunting supernatural drama released in 1999, is experiencing a revival on the free streaming service Tubi. Based on a work by Stephen King, the film features Tom Hanks in what some consider an overlooked performance. Notably, it has climbed to the third position on Tubi’s Top 10 most-watched films list.
Directed and penned by Frank Darabont, The Green Mile centers around the lives of prison guards at Cold Mountain Penitentiary’s death row, nicknamed “The Green Mile.” Officer Paul Edgecomb, portrayed by Hanks, leads the team that encounters John Coffey, played by Michael Clarke Duncan. Coffey is a new inmate facing the death penalty for a gruesome crime yet claims his innocence. As the story unfolds, Edgecomb discovers that Coffey possesses a remarkable ability to heal, which adds complexity to the narrative. To avoid spoilers, we’ll refrain from revealing more for those who have yet to experience this film.
Hanks stars alongside an impressive cast, including David Morse, Sam Rockwell, Patricia Clarkson, Barry Pepper, and Gary Sinise. The Green Mile is one of two Stephen King adaptations by Darabont, the other being the critically acclaimed The Shawshank Redemption.
Upon its release, the film achieved tremendous success, raking in over $286 million worldwide against a $60 million production budget. It competed with other major releases of 1999 such as The Matrix and The Sixth Sense, receiving nominations for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. According to King, Darabont’s screenplay adaptation remains one of the finest interpretations of his work.
A Polarizing Yet Respected Adaptation
While The Green Mile holds a place as one of King’s favored adaptations, it has not universally captured every viewer’s heart. Unlike many of King’s works that delve into horror, this film’s grounding in reality shifts the focus. The portrayal of prison conditions is undeniably grim, yet it also provokes mixed feelings particularly about its length. At three hours and nine minutes, it stands as one of the longest films adapted from a King novel. This extensive runtime has drawn criticism regarding pacing, with some viewers feeling it slows down the narrative.
Renowned film critic Roger Ebert commented on the film’s duration in his review, stating that the extended run time allows for a deeper exploration of the characters and the passage of time within the prison setting. He likened King’s narrative prowess to that of Charles Dickens, noting how both authors create immersive worlds with richly developed characters.
“The movie is a shade over three hours long. I appreciated the extra time, which allows us to feel the passage of prison months and years. Stephen King, sometimes dismissed as merely a best-seller, has in his best novels some of the power of Dickens, who created worlds that enveloped us and populated them with colorful, peculiar, sharply seen characters.” Ebert’s perspective highlights the film’s depth that can justify its length.
For those tuning into The Green Mile on Tubi, be prepared for intermittent ads that may stretch the viewing experience even further. Despite this, many agree that the film’s rich storytelling and character development make it a worthwhile endeavor.
Source
movieweb.com