A Time To Kill (1996) –
After his 10-year-old daughter is raped, a black father kills the two
white men who committed the crime. A lawyer in a small, southern
town chooses to defend the father despite all the obstacles,
including the KKK.
After his 10-year-old daughter is raped, a black father kills the two
white men who committed the crime. A lawyer in a small, southern
town chooses to defend the father despite all the obstacles,
including the KKK.
Directed by Joel Schumacher
Starring Matthew McConaughey, Sandra
Bullock,
Starring Matthew McConaughey, Sandra
Bullock,
Samuel L. Jackson
Why I Liked It- A tight
courtroom drama that considers an uncomfortable situation. Plus the
three stars.
courtroom drama that considers an uncomfortable situation. Plus the
three stars.
This is a classic “Spot the
Stars” movie. The supporting cast includes Kevin Spacey, Donald
and Keifer Sutherland, Charles S. Dutton, Oliver Platt, Patrick
McGoohan and Ashley Judd. With the exception of Judd (who never
seems to get out of first gear emotionally), the supporting cast is
almost enough to steal the movie from our three stars.
Stars” movie. The supporting cast includes Kevin Spacey, Donald
and Keifer Sutherland, Charles S. Dutton, Oliver Platt, Patrick
McGoohan and Ashley Judd. With the exception of Judd (who never
seems to get out of first gear emotionally), the supporting cast is
almost enough to steal the movie from our three stars.
Almost.
McConaughey has become one of
the actors that makes me stop and watch a movie. If you catch
something from the middle of his career, it is often a dumpster fire,
but the beginning and more recent stuff is fabulous. Here he plays
the role he does so often and so well. The idealistic iconoclast
with that bad-boy twinkle in his eye. He plays by the rules better
than his fellow attorney, Harry Rex Vonner (Platt), but he’s not
afraid to kick the status quo in the shins when needed. His mentor
(the elder Sutherland) was railroaded out of his career and has
settled into a life genteel drunkenness. Jake Brigance (McConaughey)
is willing to fight to defend a man who acknowledges he killed the
two rapists. In parts the deep south, a black man killing a white
man is still met with horror. Going for an insanity plea doesn’t
improve the matter. Before Brigance figures out he’s in over his
head, Ellen Roark (Bullock), a bright young law student shows up with
the research chops he needs.
the actors that makes me stop and watch a movie. If you catch
something from the middle of his career, it is often a dumpster fire,
but the beginning and more recent stuff is fabulous. Here he plays
the role he does so often and so well. The idealistic iconoclast
with that bad-boy twinkle in his eye. He plays by the rules better
than his fellow attorney, Harry Rex Vonner (Platt), but he’s not
afraid to kick the status quo in the shins when needed. His mentor
(the elder Sutherland) was railroaded out of his career and has
settled into a life genteel drunkenness. Jake Brigance (McConaughey)
is willing to fight to defend a man who acknowledges he killed the
two rapists. In parts the deep south, a black man killing a white
man is still met with horror. Going for an insanity plea doesn’t
improve the matter. Before Brigance figures out he’s in over his
head, Ellen Roark (Bullock), a bright young law student shows up with
the research chops he needs.
The movie is based on John
Grisham’s first novel. He is a master of the small town courtroom
drama and did a great job here. Add in a cast with six Oscar winners
plus an Oscar nominee, and Joel Schumacher would have to have worked
at screwing this up.
Grisham’s first novel. He is a master of the small town courtroom
drama and did a great job here. Add in a cast with six Oscar winners
plus an Oscar nominee, and Joel Schumacher would have to have worked
at screwing this up.
There was controversy around
the movie when it came out. At the center of the story is the
question of whether the father, played by Jackson, was justified in
murdering the rapists. The question of vigilante justice goes
unaddressed in the movie for the most part but creates vital tension
in the story.
the movie when it came out. At the center of the story is the
question of whether the father, played by Jackson, was justified in
murdering the rapists. The question of vigilante justice goes
unaddressed in the movie for the most part but creates vital tension
in the story.
Rating – **** Recommended
Stories Are My Life 
Leave a comment