When you hear the name Stephen King, like most, you can be forgiven for instantly thinking of evil clowns and all manner of horrific imagery. He is, after all, the master of horror. But both in his wheelhouse, novels, and in the world of film adaptations King proves again and again that horror is but one ace in his deck. Within the mountain of horror adaptations of his stories, there are outliers, usually spearheaded by Rob Reiner or Frank Darabont, that show you what a deep, nuanced and masterful storyteller he really is.

It’s difficult to believe that 1994’s The Shawshank Redemption tanked at the box office, such is its almost universal reputation as the perfect movie now. Cut to four years later and director Frank Darabont tried his hand at another King story, set within the walls of a prison, The Green Mile. It made tonnes of money, earning over four times its budget back. But as with Shawshank, should cash even be a decider? Not to me, because just like Shawshank, The Green Mile is a perfect movie. It wasn’t as universally praised as its predecessor with complaints of running time being prevalent. I couldn’t disagree more.

It tells the story of a wrongly convicted man, John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), coming to Cold Mountain Penitentiary to death row. He is a physically imposing man and stuns the captain of the block, Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) and his men with his childlike manner and his supernatural healing gifts. Paul has had a nasty urinary infection and one unexpected touch from Coffey heals him and shows Paul he is innocent of the crimes he was convicted of. Now Paul and his men are faced with the most heartbreaking of quandaries: do their duty and execute Coffey or break their vows and let him go.

This is a majestic film about people, the evil and the good in them, and all the shades of grey that lie between. One of the few about corrections officers, where they aren’t on the take or flat-out villains. There is no spoon-feeding or manipulation on how you should feel about a certain character’s action or choices. You are ultimately left with a moving tale that proffers questions from the characters and a narrative that allows you to form your own opinions.

The acting in this movie is superb, from the leads to the bit parts. Hanks, no stranger to accolades, is his reliable best in this. His character’s moral struggles toward the end of this picture are moving and delivered with such humanity it cracks me up each time I watch it. The late Michael Clarke Duncan went on to deservedly receive an Academy Award nomination for his depiction of John Coffey. If you never felt the need to wrap your arms around a seven-foot giant before, you will after watching him. Sam Rockwell and Doug Hutchinson equally elicit the other end of emotions by turning in two fully realised and utterly disgusting human beings respectively.

This is a long movie, there is no denying it. But for me, time’s effect on the characters is served well by it. Difficult moments aren’t quickly taken away and you are made to endure it right along with them. It works perfectly to me. This is not a movie I’ve ever sat down to rewatch and felt the passage of time consciously. It’s a testament to the storytelling as a whole.

The Green Mile to me is every bit the masterpiece of The Shawshank Redemption and worthy of your time. It is one of the most moving films I have ever seen. It as an absolute credit to Darabont, to Mr. King and to each and every person that rendered it complete. Cannot gush enough about it. A perfect film.

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray Ultimate Collector's Edition (UK)

Home Video Distributor: Warner Bros.
Available on Blu-ray - September 12, 2021
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: 4k- English SDH, German SDH, Italian SDH, Canadian French, Castilian Spanish, Complex Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Korean, Latin Spanish, Norwegian, Parisian French, Swedish BD- English SDH, German SDH, Brazilian Portuguese, Castilian Spanish, Complex Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, Greek, Italian, Korean, Latin Spanish, Norwegian, Swedish, Thai, Turkish
Audio: 4k- Dolby Atmos-TrueHD: English; BD- Dolby TrueHD: English 5.1; 4k- Dolby Digital: Canadian French 5.1, Castilian Spanish 5.1, German 5.1, Italian 5.1, Latin Spanish 2S, Parisian French 5.1 BD- Dolby Digital: English 5.1, Castilian Spanish 5.1, French 5.1, German 5.1, Italian 5.1; Dolby Surround: Brazilian Portuguese 2.0, Turkish 2.0
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K + blu-ray region-free playback

VIDEO

Probably due to the run time, the previous release’s storage capabilities made for a decided monochromatic transfer, riddled with crush and the elimination of natural colours. Not in this new 2160p 4k native scan on a 100GB disc. Theatrical colours are returned with heightened HDR10 embellishments that set this disc apart right away. This is a crisp as a chip, highly detailed, rich and inky picture that has never looked better. I think the included blu-ray, which I suspect is a replication of the VC-1 blu-ray of yore, is a perfect example of how much care and work has gone into this new transfer. Spectacular stuff!

AUDIO

We get a Dolby ATMOS 7.1 mix that ups the ante of the previous and excellent Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix. Refined and expanded atmospherics complete and compliment the visuals to immersive levels previously unrealised. The echoes of the mile, the sifting sounds of the dissipated bugs from Coffey’s abilities, the sounds of old sparky—all brought to life like never before. There is depth, there is subtlety. It’s a mix for the ages.

Supplements:

Commentary:

• By director Frank Darabont

Special Features:

The 4K disc has a legacy Darabont commentary. The blu-ray rehashes and diminishes the previous blu-ray special features by porting over the same and massively truncating ‘walking the mile’ documentary to 25 minutes (WHY???). Same, same, only inexplicably worse. This is a UK release and came in a sturdy hardcover box with included double-sided poster and lobby style cards, along with a neat little making of booklet. The choice of cover art is just… shit, both on the hardcover box and the 4K case.

• Walking the Mile: The Making of "The Green Mile" (25:30) - shorter version
• Miracles and Mystery: Creating The Green Mile (102:54)
• Deleted Scenes
• Michael Clarke Duncan's Screen Test
• Tom Hanks' Makeup Tests
• Teaser and Trailer

Includes:

• The Green Mile on 4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray
• Premium packaging with unique artwork
• Double-sided A3 poster -32-page booklet
• 2 sets of art cards

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 107 mins
Director: Rob Reiner
Writer: William Goldman
Cast: James Caan; Kathy Bates; Richard Farnsworth
Genre: Horror | Thriller
Tagline: This Christmas there will be... Misery.
Memorable Movie Quote: "You want it? You want it? Eat it! Eat it till ya choke, you sick, twisted fuck!"
Theatrical Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Official Site:
Release Date: November 30, 1990
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: October 12, 2021.
Synopsis: Oscar Winner Tom Hanks Stars in Stephen King's Magical, Epic Drama. Nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, this emotional, touching film about miracles and the power of redemption stars Tom Hanks as prison guard Paul Edgecomb. When a giant of a man is brought to death row, Edgecomb and his fellow guards discover something very unusual about their new charge, John Coffey (Oscar nominee Michael Clarke Duncan). Convicted for the sadistic murder of two young girls, but behaving almost childlike himself, Coffey seems to have a supernatural gift of healing living things. Expectations are turned upside down and the guards' sense of humanity is awakened in this astonishing adaptation of Stephen King's compelling novel. .