Film Review: A Time to Kill

Director: Joel Schumacher

Based on the novel of the same name by John Grisham, A Time to Kill was released in 1996 with a star studded cast including Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew McConnaughey and Sandra Bullock to name just three. The film was the subject of much controversy in Europe though with the French in-particular taking offence at its attempts to make an apology of the death sentence and the right to self defence. Les Inrockuptibles described the film as "nauseating", "stinking", almost "fascist", with a script "ultra-populist" that makes you want to "vomit".

Lawyer Jake Brigance (McConnaughey) with Carl Lee Hailey (Samuel L. Jackson)

After two white racists rape and attempt to murder a young black girl in Mississippi, a trial is set but with racism still rife in the state Carl Lee Hailey (Samuel L. Jackson) is desperate for revenge for the rape and savage beating of his daughter. Unconvinced that justice will be served to the two white man, he cites a previous case to Jake Brigance (McConnaughey) where four white men walked free despite overwhelming evidence due to deep-seated racism in the state, Hailey takes the law into his own hands and kills the two men in the courthouse as they are due to make their appearance. He then asks Brigance to represent him in court as he is put on trial for murder which splits the town and brings about a return of the Ku Klux Klan lead by Freddie Lee Cobb (Kiefer Sutherland) whose brother was killed.

A genuinely thrilling and thought provoking drama about the issues of race in society, not just in the deep-south but in the world as a whole. The issue here is about the treatment of African-Americans in Mississippi but the same holds true throughout the world in the way that different races and religions are treated by others in different countries. Its honestly terrifying to believe that justice wouldn't be served to guilty parties because of the skin colour of the offenders and the victim. A Time to Kill eloquently explores these issues in one of the most well known states in America for racism and inequality.

Brigance with trainee lawyer Ellen Roark (Sandra Bullock)

The acting within the film is very impressive, this was Matthew McConnaughey at his peak before he descended into the rom-coms and Samuel L. Jackson is a man of great upstanding despite his crimes here. The relationship McConnaughey has with Sandra Bullock's character and the same with Donald Sutherland's as his mentor throughout the buildup and trial. They all help provide a truly authentic feel to the town that makes you believe this could have been a real case. It does have its moments where its overly "Hollywood" and righteous that let it down as the plot progresses but it doesn't detract from an incredibly compelling legal drama.

3.5/4 Fascinating drama in the deep-South