A Time to Kill

 

Introduction

A Time to Kill is an American crime drama based on John Grisham first novel that goes by the same name. Grisham wrote this novel in the year 1989 and in the year 1996 the movie was filmed. The stars of the movie are: Sandra Bullock, Matthew McConaughey and Samuel L. Jackson. The movie is set in Mississippi, the plot of the film was based on the rape of a young girl whose father avenges her by killing the rapists and is later taken to court to be tried for murder. This film was a major breakthrough and was able to raise $ 152 million worldwide according to box office. The film was directed by Joel Schumacher.

The role of every actor in the film is very convincing, Samuel L. Jackson as Carl Lee Hailey was able to portray the role of an avenging father very well. Matthew McConaughey who plays the role of Jake Brigance, an easy-going white lawyer who defends Carl in court. This film is clearly the best version of the Grisham novels that have been filmed. Having being directed by an amazing competent director, Joel Schumacher who is known for directing other hit films such as; St. Elmo’s Fire, The Client and other successful movies (Ebert, 1996). The film as a story is well told. Due to the wide coverage of the press everyone in the country know Carl Lee Hailey, a man who killed the men who raped his daughters since he was afraid, they will be set free, many people in the country share Hailey’s feelings.

            Throughout the case Hailey tells his lawyer that he is his secret weapon since he views him just like the white jury does therefore, his thinking and that of the jury is the same and he should just try to find out what would convince the jury to set him free. As Brigance prepares for his case his wife moves the children to safety and this opens up a new role for Sandra Bullock as Ellen Roark. A rich lady who studied law at Ole Miss and comes to Brigance rescue wanting to help him for free. The film climaxes with the court ruling that takes place in the court room, McConaughey describes the events surrounding the raping of Mr. Hailey’s daughter to the jury in a way that seems pornographic and later asks them to imagine that the girl is white (Ebert, 1996)

Despite how well the movie plot was followed it fails to revolve around black people more often. Most parts of the plot of the movie involves the mentors of Brigance, his expert witness, his wife, his assistant, and his secretary, all who are white. Very few scenes in the movie involve black people. An example of a scene that involves black people is one involving NAACP lawyers who try to convince the local pastor to hold a fundraising for Hailey’s case but he insists that the money be used to fund a black lawyer instead of a white lawyer though Hailey refuse’s this proposition (Ebert, 1996). This leaves me wondering why more scenes engaging black characters were not included in the movie plot.  

The ending of the movie also leaves the audience confused since it seems rushed. A child enters the court room and claim that Hailey is innocent, people cheer to that and the jury sets him free yet he had already confessed to committing the crime. This child entering the courtroom was been used to hasten the happily ever after ending of the movie. A time to kill is an interesting, persuasive movie. It seems so convincing and the music in the film is well matched with the scenes of the movie (Ebert, 1996). I was completely moved by how McConaughey delivered his speech to the jury.

Conclusion

 A Time to Kill is a film that revolves around the murdering of two men who had raped a black ten-year-old girl in Mississippi. This case was taken to court and a white lawyer represents the black man, with the help of his mentors and a rich Northern woman who aids him for free he does everything within his power to convince the jury to set him free. There are other twists and turns in the plot but the movie has a happy ending with the black man being set free despite murdering the two men who had raped his daughter. The music in the film is well incorporated with the scenes and it is a movie worth watching.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References 

Ebert R. (1996) A Time to Kill. Retrieved from;  https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/a-time-to-kill-1996