7. The Execution - The Green Mile
Frank Darabont's adaptation of Stephen King's serial novel, The Green Mile, certainly made its mark in Hollywood as one of the more compelling films of the late 90s. An outstanding performance from the late Michael Clarke Duncan granted him a slew of award nominations and several wins, making the film a critical as well as commercial success. But Tom Hanks' performance as death row supervisor Paul Edgecomb still oozes with rigour in all the right places, giving us a few memorable moments. As Paul Edgecomb, Tom Hanks often provides the audience with his best performances when bouncing off other members of the cast. For instance, Doug Hutchison's Percy Wetmore, a vile man who's recently been bumped up to death row from his internal connections, provides Paul with a considerable headache. On promising to transfer to another position if he leads the execution on Frenchman Eduard Delacroix, Percy enacts his revenge by deliberately refusing to wet the sponge and causing one of the most traumatic scenes in the film. In this moment, Hanks takes Paul's character into overdrive, first he recognises the water appears untouched, with no splashes and no water trail leading to the chair. And when the first electric current hits Eduard's body, he knows the sponge is dry. To the guards' horror, including Percy's, they must stand and watch the brutality continue. And when Percy turns away, Paul grabs him and forces him to watch. From this moment on, Paul takes matters into his own hands with Percy, giving Hanks the opportunity to act outside the boundaries of his character's position, producing both an intense and entrancing performance. With John Coffey's execution, Paul must remain professional. While walking the mile, Hanks keeps Paul's gaze facing forward. The pain in his eyes is inevitable, as it is when John says he's scared of the dark before the cloth is to be put over his head. Even while speaking, Hanks is trying to keep Paul's emotions in check, but when he takes John's hand in his own, nodding in thanks, the tears in his eyes and the tremble in his voice give way to the cracks he crumbles. Lights spark and burst their bulbs, but Paul keeps on watching, never letting his eyes falter in respect of the man who healed him. And without a doubt, it is one of Tom Hanks' greatest moments.