A Time to Kill Movie Review 1996

Information and Film Reviews for A Time to Kill the Movie

Staff rating


Visitor rating
4.0 from 0 reviews

Powerful story of revenge, racism, and the question of justice in the "new south." John Grisham had a lot of clout when he finally sold his first and favorite novel to the movies, including veto power over the leading man--director Schumacher was for Woody Harrelson, Grisham was opposed but both finally agreed on newcomer McConaughey. He's outstanding as idealistic smalltown Mississippi lawyer Jake Brigance, called to defend anguished father Carl Lee Hailey (Jackson), who's accused of killing the rednecks who raped his young daughter. Jake's assisted by former mentor Lucien Wilbanks (Sutherland) and ambitious northern law student Ellen Roark (Bullock) against ruthless prosecutor Rufus Buckley (Spacey). Is it emotionally manipulative? You betcha. But Grisham's done well on screen and Schumacher (who also did "The Client") knows how to get the most from his cast and script.

Distribution

MGM Home Entertainment, 2500 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90404-6061, Phone: (310)449-3000, Fax: (310)449-3100, URL: http://www.mgmhomevideo.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 150 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres
Law & Lawyers, American South, Order in the Court, Justice Prevails...?, Books to Film: John Grisham, Dads, African America, Revenge, Rape, Top Grossing Films of 1996
Screenplay
Akiva Goldsman
Cast
Matthew McConaughey, Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bullock, Kevin Spacey, Donald Sutherland, Brenda Fricker, Oliver Platt, Charles S. Dutton, Kiefer Sutherland, Chris Cooper, Ashley Judd, Patrick McGoohan, Rae'ven (Alyia Larrymore) Kelly, John Diehl, Tonea Stewart, M. Emmet Walsh, Anthony Heald, Kurtwood Smith
Cinematography
Peter Menzies
Director
Joel Schumacher
Music
Elliot Goldenthal
Producer
Arnon Milchan, Michael Nathanson, Hunt Lowry, John Grisham, New Regency Pictures, Warner Bros.

Awards

MTV Movie Awards 1997: Breakthrough Perf. (McConaughey).

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