The Green Mile (1999)

Introduction
"The Green Mile" is a 1999 American fantasy crime drama film directed by Frank Darabont. Adjusted from Stephen King's 1996 novel of the exact same name, the film stars Tom Hanks as Paul Edgecomb and Michael Clarke Duncan as John Coffey. Set throughout the Great Depression in 1935, the film narrates about death row guards at a penitentiary, with a supernatural twist.

Characters and Setting
The film is set in the Cold Mountain Penitentiary's death row, referred to as "The Green Mile", due to the color of its flooring. Tom Hanks' character, Paul Edgecomb, is the kind-hearted manager of the ward who, together with other officers, is charged to preserve order within the prison. The prisoners include Eduard Delacroix, founded guilty of rape and murder, and William Wharton, a young, violent, and psychotic found guilty. The narrative focuses on a brand-new prisoner, John Coffey, played by Michael Clarke Duncan. Although he is implicated of murdering two young girls, his calm and mild demeanor suggest otherwise.

Plot Synopsis
The film's plot unfolds as Coffey with his superhuman size frightens the jail guards initially. However his behavior is strikingly uncharacteristic of somebody capable of his abhorrent charges. He shows recovery powers, as shown when he remedies Edgecomb's urinary system infection and reanimates Delacroix's mouse, Mr. Jingles. His powers underline his innocence, exposing Wharton as the real murderer. In spite of his innocence, he ultimately accepts his fate and selects not to be saved, fearing the pain of living in a terrible world.

Styles and Symbolism
Throughout "The Green Mile", styles of racial bias, empathy, and redemption are explored. With the character of Coffey - a wrongfully implicated black man in 1930s America-- the film highlights the racial bias widespread in the society of those times. Coffey's supernatural capabilities to recover and resurrect symbolizes hope, redemption, and the divine, consequently casting him as a Christ-like figure.

Conclusion
"The Green Mile" culminates in an emotionally-charged execution scene of an innocent Coffey who requests not to have a hood as he is frightened of the dark, which leaves a strong imprint on Edgecomb and others. Years later, Edgecomb, now an elderly guy residing in a retirement home, reveals to a fellow resident Elaine, that he has actually been granted an unnaturally long life-span as an after-effects of Coffey's gift. He understands that this immortality is his penalty of outliving everybody he enjoys. In reflecting upon the story of John Coffey, "The Green Mile" provides a vital expedition of the justice system, social predispositions, and the idea of redemption. In general, it's an appealing blend of criminal activity, drama, and dream, provided in a poignant and thought-provoking story. It had a big impact upon its release and continues to be a popular movie decades later on.

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