From the director of "The Shawshank Redemption", one of the best movies I've ever seen, we have "The Green Mile". Director Frank Darabont seemingly has a penchant for sensitive prison stories, and his movies don't make you feel like you're serving a sentence just watching it. I had enjoyed "The Shawshank Redemption", which starred Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins (it received 7 Academy Award nominations including one for best picture) and had expected some of the magic to rub off for "The Green Mile". It didn't disappoint either.

Set during the 1930's Depression-era in a Southern prison, it tells of a strange and sad story of a man who is assigned to run the death row, Cell Block E, called the green mile. It is the stretch of green linoleum flooring that led convicts from their jail cells to the electric chair, hence the name of the movie.

Tom Hanks gave a solid portrayal of Paul Edgecombe, a compassionate prison guard, very unlike the kind we usually see in movies who would whack the living daylights out of the prisoners. The core of the movie lies in the supernatural powers of one of the prisoners, John Coffey, who was sent to death row for raping and murdering two little girls. And Edgecomb began to question whether he was truly guilty of the hideous acts. With his strange healing powers, gentle and naïve nature, Edgecombe and his comrades began to believe that putting the man to death is the worst thing any of them can do.

Michael Clarke Duncan's superb performance of simpleton John Coffey garnered him a nomination for best supporting actor is a mountainous man, standing at six-feet five-inches. His potrayal of Coffey as a meek and afraid-of-the-dark man is so believable, his nomination is no surprise.

Also worth a mention is Doug Hutchison, who plays sadistic guard Percy Wetmore in the film. Be warned that although this is not a horror movie, there are some horrific scenes like a blotched electric chair execution. The movie does have some lighter moments too, and watch out for Mr Jingles.

Yes, the movie is 3 hours long, and worth every minute of it. An excellent film, as moving, uplifting and evocative as "The Shawshank Redemption", if even better.