MovieChat Forums > The Green Mile (1999) Discussion > A beautifully made but completely pointl...

A beautifully made but completely pointless and depressing film

posted 8 years ago by SkepticalBaby
32 replies | jump to latest

I feel like I'm the only person who didn't enjoy The Green Mile.

It isn't that it's a bad film, far from it. But really, what is the point of this film?

A good man meets a magical person who changes his life, but not for the better... it leaves a good man feeling guilty, alone and tortured by watching his loves ones die as he lives on... It's such a downbeat, emotionally hollow story.

At least The Shawshank Redemption had a message of hope and triumph and the strength of the human spirit. The Green Mile just feels like an unhappy, angry man bemoaning the meaninglessness of life.

And yes, I know The Green Mile is supposed to be a parable about Jesus Christ, but even that is usually told as an uplifting story of sacrifice. What does John Coffey die for? Nothing at all. He doesn't save anyone, he doesn't change anyone's life for the better or anything. He just makes a few people aware of the existence of magic and God and then he dies. Pointless.

I feel bad for Frank Darabont and everyone involved. They obviously put so much work into the film, but it was all for naught.

[–] thecure-1 8 years ago

I took it to be a story to show how bad the Death Penalty is.

[–] ninthcentury 7 years ago

I took it to be a story to show how bad the Death Penalty is.

While I'm sure there are a number of "points" to be taken away from this movie, I agree with you; the reason for the movie was to twist our emotions and encourage us to realise how evil the death penalty is.

~~~~~
Because supporting your thesis is tough, but throwing adjectives is easy.

[–] woodstock1960 8 years ago

It's for entertainment purposes, that's what films are for. That is it's point.

"Ain't life grand!"

[–] nxgn_not_not 8 years ago

so when u say entertainment -

R u sayin' there was no
Moral
or higher calling 2 all this?
woody60?

'cause if this is the kinda thang u call
entertaining

u gotta b a sweed

did u read the thread?
did u see the same movie?

gawd

o n as 2 the thread
was moved
at the time
wood not watch it ag'in

no whoo

der hund verzehrt mein kind

[–] spleenforsoul 8 years ago

I think people forget too that Paul and another one of the guards left the Green Mile work and went on to try and help young people in jail. I think he says something about "catching them while they're young and helping" before they can reach the green mile, at the end of the movie when he is telling the story. So his life was ultimately changed and he went on to change the lives of others. Something he wouldn't have done if he didn't meet and execute John.

[–] SkepticalBaby 8 years ago

That's a good point. I wish they'd gone into that a lot more, it would've given the story a better sense of purpose.

[–] gregmays 7 years ago

>>What does John Coffey die for? Nothing at all. <<

John Coffey dies because he's Black. No redemption would be accepted by Society at all. He was found with two murdered White Girls. It didn't matter then, and it wouldn't matter now.

It is a Jesus Christ allegory, in that the Savior is martyred, at the hands of the State.

[–] cheapfrill 7 years ago

Good point. I felt the same way about The Natural with Robert Redford. The only thing the guy really offered anyone was super-human baseball abilities. It was partially based on the true story of Eddie Waitcus, gunned down by a celebrity stalker in 1949. But he never showed the talent of Roy Hobbs. So were left with just a moody sepia toned period piece that's somehow supposed to "touch our heart". Yech !!