movie review a time to kill

A Time to Kill (1996)

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A time to kill.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 1 Review
• Kids Say 3 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Legal drama candidly tackles race relations in America.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that A Time to Kill is a drama set in Mississippi about a white lawyer (Matthew McConaughey) who defends a black man (Samuel L. Jackson) accused of killing the two white men who raped his 10-year-old daughter. The chain of events following the death of these men creates an atmosphere of…

Why Age 15+?

The opening segment shows a rape scene from the eyes of the 10-year-old victim.

Language includes many uses of the "N" word and a few uses of "s--t," plus "damn

Many adults smoke and drink at bars. Two characters are alcoholics who drink thr

Sexual innuendo.

Any Positive Content?

Promotes the idea that people of different ethnicities can interact peacefully,

Jake, a white man who's supposed to be "one of the bad guys," helps a disenfranc

Violence & Scariness

The opening segment shows a rape scene from the eyes of the 10-year-old victim. Two men tie her up, one gets undressed, and they thrust on top of her. Fist fights and brawls. Scenes show a cross burning and someone torching a home. Gun violence, murders, bloodshed, and race-induced tension and violence.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Language includes many uses of the "N" word and a few uses of "s--t," plus "damn," "crap," "ass," "piss," and "God" (as an exclamation).

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Many adults smoke and drink at bars. Two characters are alcoholics who drink throughout the film. Characters drink and drive.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Promotes the idea that people of different ethnicities can interact peacefully, even in the South. Some of the film's characters show that practicing integrity and judging someone by their character, rather than skin color, can have a lasting effect on humanity. Highlights the notion that everyone deserves social justice, no matter their social class, history, or ethnic identity.

Positive Role Models

Jake, a white man who's supposed to be "one of the bad guys," helps a disenfranchised black man receive a fair trial in the South. Their relationship is aspirational and shows that human instinct, compassion, and empathy can overcome racial prejudice. Liberal lawyers and a former civil rights activist show that it's possible to defend someone fairly without letting racism block their judgment. A man whose leg has to get amputated as the result of a stray bullet forgives; a man who lost his home and almost lost his wife doesn't give up on what he believes to be right. Many characters within the film personify integrity, perseverance, and bravery in the face of challenging times.

Parents need to know that A Time to Kill is a drama set in Mississippi about a white lawyer ( Matthew McConaughey ) who defends a black man ( Samuel L. Jackson ) accused of killing the two white men who raped his 10-year-old daughter. The chain of events following the death of these men creates an atmosphere of tension within the small Southern town, and revenge is sought by the Ku Klux Klan. Expect to see racial violence (including a cross burning) and the use of guns/weapons; characters are killed, and the rape scene is very upsetting. Characters swear ("s--t" and more) and use racially charged slurs (the "N" word); they also drink and smoke. The movie is based on the popular novel by John Grisham and has themes of integrity and perseverance. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (1)
• Kids say (3)

Based on 1 parent review

The best and most accurate review

What's the story.

A TIME TO KILL takes a candid look at America's judicial system while giving viewers a glimpse of the psychological and physical trauma and consequences that come along with racial injustice, systemic racism, and oppression. In a small Mississippi town, bold young lawyer Jake Brigance ( Matthew McConaughey ) and his assistant, Ellen Roark ( Sandra Bullock ), defend Carl Lee Hailey ( Samuel L. Jackson ), a poor black man accused of killing the two white men who raped his young daughter. This incites fury, and the Ku Klux Klan seeks revenge. The movie is based on the best-selling novel by John Grisham.

Is It Any Good?

This film candidly depicts the residual effect of racism on the next generation. Viewers get the opportunity to see things from a different perspective and consider what life is like for both a white man and a black man in the South. While A Time to Kill fairly portrays unjust crimes committed against Carl Lee and his family, the film also allows viewers to see the intense experiences of a white man and his legal team who choose to defend a black man in the South during a pivotal time in America's history. A Time To Kill doesn't shy away from revealing topics, attitudes, and the realities of many who lived in the South during this time period.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the subject matter of A Time to Kill . Has the social climate in America changed since this film came out in 1996? Has racial tension in America lessened or increased? Why do you say that?

Do you think that black men in America have the right to a fair trial? Why or why not?

Did you notice any stereotyping in this movie? What about in other movies that deal with race? What's the danger of stereotypes?

How do the characters and story show the value of perseverance and integrity ? Why are those important character strengths ?

Why do you think that Jake told the jury, in reference to 10-year-old Tonya, during his final closing statement to "imagine she is white"?

Movie Details

• In theaters : July 24, 1996
• On DVD or streaming : April 30, 1998
• Cast : Matthew McConaughey , Sandra Bullock , Samuel L. Jackson
• Director : Joel Shumacher
• Inclusion Information : Female actors, Black actors
• Studio : Warner Bros.
• Genre : Drama
• Topics : Book Characters
• Character Strengths : Integrity , Perseverance
• Run time : 149 minutes
• MPAA rating : R
• MPAA explanation : violence and some graphic language
• Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Winner
• Last updated : July 19, 2024

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What to watch next.

The Green Mile

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A Time To Kill – Movie Review

The Low-Down:

A Time To Kill is a compelling and tense legal thriller based on John Grisham’s first novel. It is one of those rare movies that actually turned out to be better than the book it was based on. The movie is about an African American man convicted of murdering two white men, who had raped his daughter, and almost killed her and his defense lawyer, who goes against all odds to save him from the death penalty. Themes like vigilantism, racial discrimination and lack of faith in the judicial system, were skillfully dealt by veteran director Joel Schumacher. The ensemble cast with heavyweights like Kevin Spacey, Donald Sutherland, Samuel L Jackson and Mathew McConaughey in the lead add a certain gravitas to the movie and ensure that you are glued to your seat from the very first scene.

Samuel L Jackson gave a memorable performance playing Carl Lee Hailey, the avenging father who had killed the rapists in broad day light because he lacked faith in the justice system. Mathew McConaughey was convincingly solid as Jake Brigance, a young, sharp and witty but inexperienced defense lawyer. The relentless and untiring determination towards his commitment to seek justice is a lesson for all the young and aspiring lawyers.

The Legal Angle:

Grisham’s unapologetic depiction of vigilante justice as a brutal consequence of distrust in the justice system may resonate with some people but it also poses a legal and moral conundrum. Can someone be allowed to take the law into their own hands? Is there any justification for vigilantism in a jural society? Joel Schumacher’s careful treatment of these sensitive issues present a compelling case for vigilante justice, but scholars of law are bound to disagree with the methods of Carl Lee Hailey.

The idea that courts are a medium through which justice must be dispensed is reinforced and packaged in an emotionally charged tale of a helpless father. The distinction between justice and deciding matters in accordance with the law, is maintained throughout the movie. While the purpose of law is to establish justice in a society, in practice this purpose is usually ignored in favor of what has already been defined (law). This divide between law and justice has been a bone of contention among jurists for thousands of years and this movie adds yet another take on the age old debate.

The main idea being, “will a black man receive a fair trial in the south?” was a recurring theme through out the movie and in a broader context can easily be applied to societies where socio-legal discrimination is still prevalent against racial/religious minorities. At the heart of this, the story is about the importance of civil rights and dangers of unchecked social privileges.

Final Verdict:

A spectacularly entertaining movie made believable with impeccable acting and brilliant direction. It will leave the audience with an aftertaste of justice in their mouths and questions in their minds. Not a dull moment guaranteed.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization with which he might be associated.

Author: Ali Zaidi

The writer is a final year law student at Punjab University Law College, Lahore.

• A Time To Kill - Movie Review - Courting The Law

45 Facts About The Movie A Time To Kill

Written by Evvie Spann

Modified & Updated: 01 Jun 2024

Reviewed by Sherman Smith

A Time to Kill is a gripping courtroom drama that captivated audiences when it first hit the silver screen in 1996. Directed by Joel Schumacher and based on John Grisham’s best-selling novel of the same name, the movie explores themes of justice, racism, and the lengths one man will go to protect his family. Set in Mississippi, the film stars an ensemble cast including Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, and Kevin Spacey .

With its intense performances , thought-provoking storyline, and powerful social commentary, A Time to Kill has remained a timeless classic in the realm of legal films. In this article, we will delve into 45 fascinating facts about the movie that will deepen your appreciation for its production, cast, and impact on popular culture. From behind-the-scenes trivia to the film’s historical context, let us take you on a journey through the inner workings of A Time to Kill.

Key Takeaways:

• A Time to Kill, released in 1996, explores racial tension and justice, prompting discussions about the flaws within the legal system and the importance of empathy and unity in the pursuit of equality.
• The movie features powerful performances and thought-provoking themes, addressing the impact of trauma, the complexities of fatherhood, and the enduring power of hope in the face of adversity.

A Time to Kill was released in 1996.

A Time to Kill, a gripping legal drama adapted from John Grisham’s bestselling novel, hit the big screen in The film captured audiences with its intense storyline and stellar performances.

The movie stars Matthew McConaughey as defense attorney Jake Brigance.

Matthew McConaughey delivered a career-defining performance as Jake Brigance, a dedicated lawyer who takes on a racially charged murder case in a small Mississippi town.

Sandra Bullock plays Jake Brigance’s young assistant, Ellen Roark.

Sandra Bullock shines as Ellen Roark, a determined and intelligent law student who supports Brigance in his fight for justice.

A Time to Kill features an ensemble cast.

The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast including Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, Ashley Judd, Donald Sutherland, and many more talented actors who brought the characters to life.

Joel Schumacher directed the film.

Renowned director Joel Schumacher expertly helmed A Time to Kill, guiding the cast and crew in delivering a powerful and thought-provoking film.

The movie explores themes of racial tension and justice.

A Time to Kill tackles hard-hitting topics of racial discrimination and the flaws within the justice system , sparking important conversations about equality.

The screenplay was written by Akiva Goldsman.

Akiva Goldsman, known for his work on films like A Beautiful Mind , adapted John Grisham’s novel into a compelling screenplay that remains true to its core themes.

The film addresses sensitive and controversial subjects.

A Time to Kill fearlessly delves into sensitive subjects such as rape, revenge, and the morality of taking matters into one’s own hands, posing thought-provoking questions along the way.

John Grisham makes a cameo appearance in the film.

Author John Grisham , whose novel serves as the source material for the movie, makes a brief appearance in A Time to Kill, cementing his connection to the story.

A Time to Kill received mixed reviews from critics.

Upon its release, the film garnered a range of reviews from critics, with some praising its performances and gripping narrative, while others critiqued its handling of complex themes.

The movie was a box office success.

Despite the mixed critical reception, A Time to Kill achieved significant commercial success, earning over $152 million worldwide.

The courtroom scenes were filmed in Canton, Mississippi.

The film’s intense courtroom moments were brought to life in the vibrant town of Canton, capturing the essence of the story’s southern setting.

A Time to Kill showcases powerful courtroom speeches.

The film delivers memorable and impactful courtroom speeches that resonate with audiences, highlighting the power of words in the pursuit of justice.

The movie addresses the power dynamics within the legal system.

A Time to Kill explores the ways in which power dynamics can influence the outcome of a trial and the pursuit of justice.

The film’s score was composed by Elliot Goldenthal.

Elliot Goldenthal composed the haunting and emotional score that perfectly complements the intense and dramatic moments throughout the film.

A Time to Kill was nominated for one Academy Award.

The film received a nomination for Best Sound Editing at the 69th Academy Awards , recognizing the exceptional sound work done on the movie.

The movie showcases the struggle for empathy and understanding.

A Time to Kill delves into the complex emotions and challenges faced by the characters as they navigate a divided community and seek understanding in the face of tragedy.

A Time to Kill explores the price of justice.

The film raises questions about the moral and emotional toll that the pursuit of justice can take on individuals and communities.

The movie highlights the importance of legal ethics.

A Time to Kill emphasizes the ultimate importance of upholding ethical standards within the legal profession, even in the face of difficult circumstances.

A Time to Kill addresses the concept of vigilantism.

The film raises the issue of vigilantism as characters grapple with their desire for revenge in the absence of justice.

A Time to Kill showcases the power of community unity.

Throughout the film, the characters find strength in coming together as a community, transcending racial divides and prejudices.

The movie contains intense and emotionally charged scenes.

A Time to Kill captivates audiences with its gripping and emotionally charged scenes, leaving a lasting impact on viewers.

The film features strong performances from its cast.

The talented cast delivers powerful performances, immersing the audience in the raw emotions and complex dilemmas faced by their characters.

A Time to Kill was the first of John Grisham’s novels to be adapted into a movie.

A Time to Kill paved the way for future adaptations of John Grisham’s legal thrillers, establishing a successful template for bringing his stories to the big screen.

The movie showcases the importance of storytelling in the pursuit of justice.

Through the art of storytelling, the characters in A Time to Kill strive to convey the truth and ensure that justice is served.

A Time to Kill explores the impact of a single event on an entire community.

The film examines how a tragic event reverberates throughout a small town, exposing deep-rooted prejudices and forcing its residents to confront uncomfortable truths.

A Time to Kill is known for its powerful and memorable quotes.

The movie features several unforgettable quotes that have become iconic, reflecting the film’s profound themes and thought-provoking dialogue.

The film highlights the complexities of legal strategy.

A Time to Kill offers insight into the strategic decisions made by lawyers as they navigate a complex legal system in pursuit of justice for their clients.

A Time to Kill showcases the enduring power of hope.

Amidst the darkness and despair, the characters in the film hold onto hope as they fight for a better future and a more just society.

The movie presents a nuanced portrayal of fatherhood.

A Time to Kill explores the complexities of fatherhood and the sacrifices parents are willing to make to protect their children .

A Time to Kill addresses the role of media in shaping public opinion.

The film examines how the media influences public perception and how the pursuit of justice can become entangled with the need for sensationalism.

The movie challenges societal norms and prejudices.

A Time to Kill confronts societal biases and prejudices, urging audiences to question their own beliefs and strive for a more inclusive and equitable society.

The film explores the concept of redemption.

A Time to Kill delves into the idea of redemption and the possibility of finding forgiveness and healing in the aftermath of tragedy.

A Time to Kill showcases the power of empathy.

The film emphasizes the importance of empathy in understanding the experiences and perspectives of others, ultimately fostering compassion and unity.

The movie prompts discussions about the flaws within the justice system.

A Time to Kill sparks debates about the failings and biases within the legal system and the need for ongoing reforms to ensure fairness and equal treatment.

A Time to Kill addresses the legacy of slavery and racism in America.

The film confronts the painful history of racism and slavery, shedding light on the deep-rooted prejudices that continue to impact society.

The movie challenges the notion of black and white morality.

A Time to Kill presents complex moral dilemmas, blurring the lines between right and wrong and forcing characters to confront their own notions of justice.

A Time to Kill showcases the resilience of the human spirit.

Amidst the hardships and injustices, the film highlights the indomitable spirit of individuals who refuse to be silenced and continue to fight for what is right.

The movie boasts powerful and emotional performances from Samuel L. Jackson.

Samuel L. Jackson delivers a captivating and emotionally charged performance as Carl Lee Hailey, the grieving father seeking justice for his daughter.

A Time to Kill explores the personal sacrifices made in the pursuit of justice.

The film demonstrates the lengths to which individuals are willing to go in order to fight for justice, often at great personal cost.

The movie depicts the impact of trauma on individuals and communities.

A Time to Kill explores the profound effects of trauma and the long-lasting scars it leaves on both individuals and society as a whole.

A Time to Kill remains relevant in its exploration of racial inequality.

Decades after its release, the movie’s examination of racial inequality and the need for social justice remains a relevant and pressing issue.

The film raises questions about the nature of humanity.

A Time to Kill prompts reflections on the innate goodness and capacity for evil within human beings, challenging viewers to confront the depths of their own humanity.

A Time to Kill is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged film.

With its powerful performances, gripping storyline, and poignant themes, A Time to Kill is a film that leaves a lasting impact on audiences.

A Time to Kill serves as a reminder of the importance of justice and equality.

The movie serves as a powerful reminder that justice and equality are fundamental rights that must be fought for and protected at all costs.

In conclusion, A Time to Kill is a powerful and thought-provoking movie that tackles important social issues and raises questions about justice, morality, and prejudice. With a stellar cast, gripping storyline, and intense courtroom scenes, it leaves a lasting impact on its viewers. The film showcases the talent and skill of the actors, especially Matthew McConaughey in his breakout role, and highlights the timeless relevance of its themes. A Time to Kill serves as a reminder of the power of storytelling in shining a light on important societal issues and promoting empathy and understanding. It is a must-watch for movie lovers and fans of legal dramas alike.

1. What is the storyline of A Time to Kill?

The movie follows the story of Carl Lee Hailey, an African-American man who takes the law into his own hands after his daughter is brutally raped and beaten by two white men. The film explores the legal repercussions and moral dilemmas surrounding his actions.

2. Who stars in A Time to Kill?

The movie features an exceptional cast, including Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, and Samuel Jackson, among others.

3. Is A Time to Kill based on a book?

Yes , A Time to Kill is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by John Grisham.

4. What are some of the major themes explored in the movie?

The movie delves into themes such as racial injustice, the morality of revenge, the power of the legal system, and the complexities of the human condition.

5. Are there any notable courtroom scenes in A Time to Kill?

A Time to Kill is known for its intense and gripping courtroom scenes, where the characters engage in powerful and emotional legal battles.

6. Was A Time to Kill a commercial success?

Yes, the movie was a box office success, grossing over $100 million worldwide.

7. Does the movie have any important messages or takeaways?

A Time to Kill raises important questions about the deep-rooted prejudices in society and the need for empathy, understanding, and justice.

8. How was the critical reception of A Time to Kill?

The movie received generally positive reviews from critics and was praised for its powerful performances, compelling storytelling, and exploration of relevant social issues.

9. Is A Time to Kill suitable for all audiences?

Due to its intense and mature themes, the movie is recommended for adult audiences.

10. Where can I watch A Time to Kill?

The movie is available on various streaming platforms, such as Netflix , Amazon Prime, and Hulu, and can also be purchased or rented from online retailers.

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A Time to Kill

Although it has its share of implausibilities, "A Time To Kill" is generally the most satisfying of the John Grisham screen adaptations to date. An absorbing tale of racial tensions as seen through the prism of a highly controversial murder case, this sweaty Southern courtroom drama is well served by a stellar cast that, along with the notably tony production values, puts a classy stamp on the rather contrived melodramatic proceedings.

By Todd McCarthy

Todd McCarthy

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Although it has its share of implausibilities, “ A Time To Kill ” is generally the most satisfying of the John Grisham screen adaptations to date. An absorbing tale of racial tensions as seen through the prism of a highly controversial murder case, this sweaty Southern courtroom drama is well served by a stellar cast that, along with the notably tony production values, puts a classy stamp on the rather contrived melodramatic proceedings. As all the previous Grisham entries have grossed roughly $ 100 million or better, it would be surprising if Warner Bros. couldn’t propel this one to the same upscale commercial neighborhood.

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With its “ To Kill a Mockingbird ” setup of an earnest white lawyer defending a black man of a crime that’s a particular affront to rednecks, pic stokes the political and emotional coals in ways calculated to appeal to middle-of-the-road and liberal humanist whites as well as to blacks, whichcould translate into sizable crossover business.

Popular on Variety

Just as much of a synthetic fabrication as other Grisham yarns, this one nonetheless emerges as more substantial due to the social fabric and unavoidably contentious legal issues at its core, as well as its colorful cast of characters.

Blood-boiling opening has two bad ol’ boys grabbing a 10-year-old black girl off a country road, tying her up, and beating and raping her within an inch of her life. The white trash perpetrators are easily apprehended, but the girl’s infuriated father, Carl Lee Hailey (Samuel L. Jackson), can’t restrain himself and guns down the goons as they are being led through the county courthouse, blowing away the knee of an innocent deputy (Chris Cooper) in the process.

To whom should Hailey turn for his defense but to another of Grisham’s patented down-and-out Southern lawyers, in this case young, good-looking Jake Brigance (Matthew McConaughey), who previously got Hailey’s brother off on a charge. With little going for him other than the moral support of his disbarred and drunken former law professor (Donald Sutherland), secretary (Brenda Fricker) and lawyer buddy (Oliver Platt), Brigance takes on the murder case and begins to get a taste of what he’s up against when he’s threatened with dire personal consequences if his defense is successful.

Indeed, the case inspires a revival of the largely dormant Ku Klux Klan in Canton, Miss., a movement led by the brother (Kiefer Sutherland) of one of the murdered men. As the trial approaches, the Klan becomes increasingly brazen, burning a cross in front of Brigance’s house and generally making modern Canton look like the South in pre-civil rights days.

Arriving from left field, both dramatically and politically, is perky rich girl law student Ellen Roark (Sandra Bullock), who keeps pestering Brigance to let her pitch in with the defense. His persistent refusals unfortunately point up one of the story’s biggest weak points, as Brigance would seem to need all the help he can get.

In one of the tale’s more interesting passages, the NAACP and the local black minister try to dump Brigance by imposing some high-powered legal representation , but the shrewd Hailey resists the move and sticks with his man. When his wife (Ashley Judd) and daughter conveniently leave town, Brigance has a change of heart and welcomes the assistance of the foxy Northerner with the black Porsche convertible, which throws a measure of sexual tension into the mix as well.

The trial itself is intense and provides numerous surprises and twists. With the crafty, ambitious Rufus Buckley (Kevin Spacey) leading the prosecution and an all-white jury hearing the case, Hailey would seem to be as good as dead. Despite some vital help from Roark, it all comes down to Brigance, in his summation, to convince the jurors that, perhaps, if they had been in Hailey’s shoes, they might have done the same thing.

As originated by Grisham and adapted by Akiva Goldsman, this is a story of elemental emotional and legal issues splashed across a large canvas, and director Joel Schumacher has done a solid job of keeping the many components in focus and balance. The picture is handsomely, even elegantly made, conspicuously well shot by Peter Menzies Jr. and scored with unusual subtlety and suppleness by Elliot Goldenthal .

Anointed for stardom by Schumacher and Grisham, the tall, blond, lanky McConaughey possesses traditional movie-star good looks and is up to the varied demands of the central role. At the same time, there are some built-in liabilities with the part, not only his puzzling passivity in building his case but some hackneyed scenes with his wife, the problems with which are no fault of the actors.

Jackson has the most potent dramatic opportunities and makes the most of them in the film’s most riveting performance. His careful, deliberate readings automatically heighten attention to what he’s saying, and his blunt speech about race relations and the law to his attorney the night before the latter’s summation is a high point.

Although she receives top billing, Bullock plays a somewhat peripheral character who hovers around the edges of the central events until rather late in the game. All the same, she is very fetching as a young woman who knows her worth and proves it time and again.

Supporting cast provides a vast amount of authority, amusement and sheer professionalism, especially Spacey as the slick prosecutor, Donald Sutherland as Brigance’s dissolute mentor and Patrick McGoohan as the old-school presiding judge. Chris Cooper delivers a brief but exceptionally vivid turn as the injured deputy, while M. Emmet Walsh is curiously unbilled for his appearance as a key trial witness.

All tech contributions are top-drawer.

• Production: Warner. Director Joel Schumacher; Producer Arnon Milchan, Michael Nathanson; Screenplay Akiva Goldsman.
• Crew: Camera (Technicolor, Panavision widescreen), Peter Menzies Jr.; editor, William Steinkamp; music, Elliot Goldenthal; production design, Larry Fulton; art direction, Richard Toyon; set design, Keith P. Cunningham, Maya Shimoguchi; set decoration, Dorree Cooper; costume design, Ingrid Ferrin; sound (Dolby/SDDS), Petur Hliddal; associate producer-assistant director, William M. Elvin; casting, Mali Finn. Reviewed at Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, June 21, 1996. MPAA Rating: R. Running time: 150 min.
• With: Ellen Roark ... Sandra Bullock Carl Lee Hailey ... Samuel L. Jackson Jake Brigance ... Matthew McConaughey Rufus Buckley ... Kevin Spacey Ethel Twitty ... Brenda Fricker Harry Rex Vonner ... Oliver Platt Sheriff Ozzie Walls ... Charles S. Dutton Carla Brigance ... Ashley Judd Judge Omar Noose ... Patrick McGoohan Lucien Wilbanks ... Donald Sutherland Freddie Cobb ... Kiefer Sutherland Tim Nunley ... John Diehl Pete Willard ... Doug Hutchison Billy Ray Cobb ... Nicky Katt Rev. Isaiah Street ... Joe Seneca Deputy Looney ... Chris Cooper Cora Cobb ... Beth Grant Dr. Rodeheaver ... Anthony Heald Norman Reinfield ... Jonathan Hadary Brent Musgrove ... Byron Jennings Gwen Hailey ... Tonea Stewart Tonya Hailey ... Raeven Larrymore Kelly Stump Sisson ... Kurtwood Smith Willard Tyrell Bass ... M. Emmet Walsh

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A Time To Kill Review

13 Sep 1996

149 minutes

A Time To Kill

So enamoured was he with Joel Schumacher's solid if unremarkable handling of The Client, that one-time legal eagle turned author-of-the-moment John Grisham handed the director the reins to his precious debut novel. By far his best work, A Time To Kill carried semi-autobiographical overtones that the scribe (and, now indeed, producer) had, fearing the worst, been unwilling to fritter off onto the Hollywood production line.

It proved less a gift than a hot potato: a moral tightrope of a subject, casting antipathy between director and author (over who would play the lead) and a shoot in the inflammatory and sweltering atmosphere of a Mississippi summer haunted by the ghosts of movies past - To Kill A Mockingbird casts a long shadow. Yet bad karma has led to enriched moviegoing. This is easily the most thought-provoking and stimulating of the Grishamised movies.

Unknown beforehand but now a superstar in the offing, McConaughey is Jake Brigance, the local boy lawyer embroiled in a case that is more akin to a legal firebomb. After two redneck bullyboys brutally rape his black eight-year-old daughter and then slip through a hole in the law, impassioned father Jackson dispenses home-made justice by a lethal injection. Of lead. It is, of course, Brigance who elects to defend his vigilante actions and blow issues of justice wide open. Enter the Ku Klux Klan, led by the sneering lustre of Kiefer Sutherland, to stir up the locals, propping up the thriller elements with top quality nastiness. And enter hotshot law student Sandra Bullock to boil up some serious sexual chemistry and add right-on viewpoints.

The rest of the rangy cast reads like a talent devotee wish-list: Kevin Spacey smarming away as the egotistical prosecutor; Ashley Judd as the fretting wife; Donald Sutherland the drunken old-timer with sly advice; and Oliver Platt providing comic asides as a cynicism-sodden buddy lawyer. Even down on the third echelon the players are still hot: M. Emmet Walsh, Charles Dutton, Brenda Fricker.

Once it is assured McConaughey can do the business, whipping up sex appeal and camera hoggage like a thoroughbred, it is hard for Schumacher to mess up. An actual niggle is, ironically, talent overload: there are hints of too many cooks with scant opportunity to savour the likes of Sutherland, Platt and Spacey, even top billed Bullock is only a support player. With all the acting bases covered - jail-bound Jackson, as taut as a piano string, is fantastic - and the stormy southern location squirming with sweaty confrontations, lynchings and racial tension, there comes the reliable bluster of the movie courtroom complete with stir-'em-up staples - rent-a-mob riots, objections, last ditch evidence, wholesale implausibilites and Patrick McGoohan's sneery judge.

It's all very Grisham - swish courtroom antics by blue-eyed golden boy win day - but one balanced precariously on an ethical quagmire. What would you do if it were your daughter? Can vigilantism ever be acceptable? Schumacher is never quite smart enough to keep the debate neutral, and the unrestrained hero worship at the close leaves a nasty taste. But a rare thing is a courtroom thriller daring to venture into the grey areas of the law, and A Time To Kill is a prime slice of legal Americana.

Home > A Time to Kill Ending Explained

• A Time to Kill Ending Explained
• UPDATED: September 21, 2023

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A Time to Kill Ending Explained: Justice Prevails

John Grisham’s legal thriller, “A Time to Kill,” captivated readers and moviegoers alike with its gripping storyline and thought-provoking themes. The novel, which was later adapted into a film starring Matthew McConaughey and Samuel L. Jackson, delves into the complexities of racial prejudice, justice, and the lengths one man will go to protect his family.

The story follows Jake Brigance, a young lawyer in Mississippi, who finds himself defending Carl Lee Hailey, a black man accused of killing two white men who raped his 10-year-old daughter. As the trial progresses, tensions rise in the small town as racial divisions become more apparent.

The ending of “A Time to Kill” is both satisfying and bittersweet. After a grueling trial filled with intense courtroom drama and emotional testimonies, the jury ultimately finds Carl Lee not guilty by reason of temporary insanity. This verdict is a result of Jake’s passionate defense strategy, which focused on appealing to the jurors’ sense of empathy and understanding.

However, justice does not come without consequences. Despite being acquitted for his actions, Carl Lee still faces an uncertain future. The town remains divided over the trial’s outcome, with some celebrating his victory while others resent him for taking matters into his own hands.

In the final scenes of both the book and the film adaptation, Jake receives a threatening letter from an anonymous sender warning him to leave town. This serves as a reminder that even though justice has been served in the courtroom, there are those who will never accept it.

The ending of “A Time to Kill” leaves readers and viewers pondering several important questions. Can true justice ever be achieved in a society plagued by racism? Is vigilantism justified when the legal system fails to protect its citizens? These questions force us to confront our own beliefs about morality and the limits of the law.

Ultimately, “A Time to Kill” reminds us that justice is a complex and imperfect concept. While the trial’s outcome may bring a sense of closure, it also highlights the deep-rooted issues that continue to plague our society. Grisham’s novel and its ending serve as a call to action, urging readers and viewers to confront these issues head-on and work towards a more just and equitable future.

In conclusion, the ending of “A Time to Kill” is both satisfying and thought-provoking. It showcases the power of empathy and compassion in the pursuit of justice while acknowledging the challenges that still exist in our society. By exploring themes of racial prejudice, vigilantism, and the limitations of the legal system, Grisham’s novel leaves a lasting impact on its audience, encouraging us to reflect on our own beliefs and take action for a better tomorrow.

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A Time to Kill [Movie Review]

A Time to Kill is a 1996 film based on a book by John Grisham that takes place in a relatively small community in Mississippi . A courtroom drama, A Time to Kill follows the case of a Black man who is on trial for murdering two racist White men who viciously attacked and raped his daughter. Needing legal representation, he seeks the help of a local lawyer with a struggling law practice. The pair face off against a prosecutor who is hoping to use the case to advance his career and the murdered men’s supporters who are seeking revenge for their deaths.

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A young Black girl, Tonya (Rae’Ven Larrymore Kelly), is walking home from buying groceries and runs into two White men who are out joyriding and causing trouble. Billy Ray Cobb (Nicky Katt) and Pete Willard (Doug Hutchison) have mullets but let’s not stereotype. They’re two raggedy-looking White guys driving around annoying and pestering residents of the Black community within this town.

The pair are merely a nuisance at first but things take a turn when they come across Tonya who is walking alone on what I would consider a desolate road. They viciously attack the child. Assaulting, raping, and attempting to hang her before leaving her for dead. Fortunately, she’s found and taken to a hospital where she survives her injuries.

Carl Lee Hailey (Samuel L. Jackson), Tonya’s father, is concerned for his daughter’s safety and health. There was a similar case in another nearby town where four White young men raped a Black girl and got away with the crime. With that in mind, Carl has little faith that his daughter will be able to get justice in a town like his.

Taking matters into his own hands Carl arrives at the courthouse when the two guys are going to be arraigned. Opening fire on the men, Carl kills them both and wounds a member of law enforcement who was helping to provide security. He intended to kill the two young men but not harm the police officer who was hit in the crossfire. With that Carl now finds himself on trial for his vigilante act.

It seems as though up to this point there might not have been open hostility in the town between the two races. The White residents mostly live within the town in what appear to be nicer homes. The Black residents live on the outskirts of town and while their houses aren’t ramshackle, they seem to be older and less fancy or well-maintained.

Carl Lee appeals to Jake Tyler Brigance (Matthew McConaughey) a local lawyer who had previously done some legal work for his brother. With that, you now have what is squaring up to be a courtroom drama. On one side, you have McConaughey playing the defense attorney. On the other side, you have Kevin Spacey playing the prosecutor, Rufus Buckley.

Buckley is currently the district attorney but has ambitions to become governor. Winning this case would be a tremendous opportunity for him to further increase his chances of being elected. The case is also important to Jake because it would present an opportunity to maybe get some attention and drum up business for his struggling legal practice. He has a partner in the firm but he has some issues with alcoholism and has lost his law license.

On the surface, you have these two sides that are fighting this legal battle. But they also have other motivations that are pushing them to try to win the case. Sure there’s the glory of winning the case in and of itself but also the long-term benefits and opportunities that it might bring for their careers.

This is a relatively small town where there’s probably not a lot going on. And given the nature of the rape and assault of Tonya, many members of the community had gathered at the courthouse. Before that case even began, people had likely already taken sides. When the two men were killed in the courtroom, their mother and brother were watching as were several other members of the community. Such a case would already have some simmering hostilities but the two men being white supremacists creates further division and adds to the tension.

It’s not surprising that Billy Ray and Pete receive support from their friends and family. But Billy Ray’s brother Freddie Lee Cobb (Kiefer Sutherland) and a friend decide that something needs to be done about this. Nevermind that the two men had been out looking for trouble and found it. Their friends and family still view them as having been wronged. They pay little attention to the harm that has been done to this little girl who was minding her own business. Instead, they focus on the loss of their loved ones.

I understand them feeling upset but they’re delusional for carrying on like they’re the wronged party. Freddie gathers with friends and they take it upon themselves to establish a local branch of the Ku Klux Klan. They feel as though things are getting out of hand. America is changing, and they believe they have to fight to not only get revenge for Billy Ray and Pete but also to fight against these changing tides. They take issue with Black people having the nerve to fight back and defend themselves or seek vengeance against White people that have done them wrong.

To play devil’s advocate, it wasn’t the smartest idea for Carl to kill these two men out of revenge for his daughter. First, they hadn’t gone to trial. While I understand his distrust of the system, I also understand waiting to see how things might have worked out. Tonya is his daughter who he loves and wants to protect. He wanted to get some type of retribution to make them and their loved ones feel his pain.

But he has his wife, three sons, and especially Tonya. She experienced a traumatic event that has changed her life and even after healing physically, she will need all the support she can get to cope emotionally and psychologically. If Carl Lee is convicted and goes to jail or worse, is executed, he won’t be there to help provide the support that she needs. I understand the urge to get revenge and make these men pay for what they did. But risking sitting in jail for decades or being executed would leave his daughter without her father at a time when she needs him the most.

The smarter thing would have been to let the case play out and in the meantime, offer your daughter the support that she needs. If we’re suspending disbelief, it would have made more sense to shoot them after they get off and claim it was a crime of passion or in defense of others. But that would have changed the movie.

Sticking with the story as its written, Carl Lee is facing the death penalty. He happens to know an attorney so that’s who he appeals to for help. But let’s say if he didn’t know this attorney, and had to rely on a public defender, that might change things. There’s a scene where the sheriff and deputies bring Billy Ray and Pete to the jail after they’ve been arrested. They’re placed in a cell by themselves so it’s just the two of them and we don’t see any other White prisoners. Yet, when the camera moves to the cell next to them we see that quite a few Black men are being held together in that cell.

We don’t have deep insight into the community at that point in A Time to Kill . But there is a clear disparity between the representation of races in the jail. That disparity is noteworthy because there’s a conversation about the population in the area being about 20% Black and otherwise White. In some of the surrounding counties, the Black population is the majority or makes up a greater percentage of the population. Here in this county where Black people are the minority within the community, they are seemingly the majority being held in jail. It’s worth noting that this doesn’t necessarily reflect the percentage of people committing crimes, just those being held in jail.

There is some discussion about attempting to get justice within the justice system or simply moving through the system as an individual. Carl committed a crime as a Black man in a predominantly White county. There’s a good chance that he will end up with a White jury. And if he is judged by a White jury, there’s a good chance that he’s going to be convicted and might receive a death sentence.

This is a man who works a regular job. He’s a blue-collar worker and not wealthy at all. To mount a proper legal defense would cost quite a bit of money. I believe Jake estimated it would be about $50,000. And that’s $50,000 in 1980s money which was a lot then and adjusted for inflation would be quite a bit more in the present. Carl Lee doesn’t have that kind of money but thinks he might be able to put together $10,000.

Let’s take a step back from his particular case. Just imagine being on trial and defending yourself in such a case would cost about $50,000. How many people have that kind of money laying about or through whatever means would be able to obtain that kind of money? How do you mount a vigorous defense if it costs money that you don’t have?

Carl Lee hopes to come up with $10,000 but realizes even that isn’t so easy to put together. The bank won’t extend him any kind of credit, because it’s his first time in prison, and they’re worried about being able to get back their money. In addition, he’s lost the job at which he’s worked for 20 years after missing just five days. His family still needs to survive. How are they going to continue to support themselves while also providing the funds to fight his court case?

That’s another part of why I feel it was an emotional and seemingly illogical move to kill these two individuals in such a manner. It’s going to make his life very complicated. But then as I was writing this review, I began to think that it was kind of smart though risky.

The circumstances of the assault and Carl Lee shooting the men in the courthouse in front of all those people would lead one to believe that he’s not thinking logically. That he’s so blinded by hurt and rage that he does something illogical and makes no effort to escape justice seems like a good setup for a plea of temporary insanity. Well played.

There’s an increasingly ominous feeling that tensions that have been brewing beneath the town’s surface are going to break into the open. People begin attempting to intimidate Jake, his practice, and the people close to him before it gives way to less subtle threats. They’re hoping that with enough pressure he might drop the case, creating a path to an easy guilty verdict.

On the prosecution’s side, they’re angling to manipulate the situation so they’re in the best position to win. They discuss the county’s demographics and how best they can swing things to ensure that they get a predominantly White jury. Buckley also speaks about trying to get a judge that might be sympathetic to them. He resorts to sending alcohol to Jake’s partner who is an alcoholic to render him unable to assist.

Usually, with movies of this nature, you might see the crime, and then they just launch into the courtroom drama but there’s a slower build-up here. It’s not just people getting on the witness stand and the presentation of evidence. There’s some discussion in the lead-up to the trial about how juries are put together and manipulating little details leading up to a court case helps to better ensure the likelihood of getting your desired outcome.

Whether or not a defendant can afford a good defense is key. But so is where the trial takes place as that affects the composition of the jury. And then there are all of these other little levers that you can adjust before the trial that can then have a tremendous impact on the verdict.

Outside of the courtroom, Freddie Cobb and his friends who have formed a local Klan group are stirring up trouble. In a sense, they are juxtaposed against the NAACP which is a false equivalence. I don’t have an issue with the NAACP nor am I its biggest fan but it feels icky to have them facing off against the Klan to control the narrative and sentiment in the community. In this instance, the NAACP is a real organization but also serves as a stand-in for similar organizations and individuals.

In these types of cases where some crime has been committed against a Black person and race is a factor, they tend to get involved. When you have these kinds of situations the press is used to generate attention in hopes of getting some kind of justice. It’s often needed to get the ball moving or to keep everyone honest. Some people get involved because they genuinely want to do some good and see justice done but others rush in with ulterior motives. Their involvement is really a ploy to get press for themselves.

You might have people requesting donations supposedly on behalf of the individual and/or their family. Think of when a person dies or has some traumatic experience and some random person pops up with a GoFundMe. But the exact plans for the funds might be unclear if stated at all. Before strategies are discussed or plans are put in place, there are calls for money. Others rush in and attach themselves to the situation and take it upon themselves to become the spokesperson.

A legal team is put together for Carl Lee but under the guise of consideration for potential ramifications of the case, the NAACP offers to step in and provide help. Representatives from the organization push for replacing Jake with lawyers from the NAACP’s legal defense arm. To be fair, Jake wants to get paid like anyone else as there are associated expenses. Yet, he has been there from the outset and has been putting in effort despite Carl’s money situation still being in limbo. They also have a past relationship as Jake previously represented Carl Lee’s brother.

I get that mounting a vigorous defense requires money. But seemingly before they even make contact with Carl to discuss the legal strategy or build rapport, they’ve already begun raising money. They’ve gone to the community and appealed to the local church to fundraise. It was implied that the money they gathered would be used to help Carl Lee’s defense but also his family, Tonya in particular. Obviously, they’ll have expenses as well if they step in as Carl’s lawyers. But in this instance, they’re taking all of the money for their legal expenses but haven’t given any to Carl’s family.

I would give the NAACP the benefit of the doubt that this isn’t actually how they operate in real life. To be quite honest I wish that the filmmakers used a made-up organization’s name instead of the actual NAACP because it feels like a specific attack on them. Their representatives seem like shady hustlers.

For example, there is a little man with gray hair who appeals to the reverend to raise money through the church and take a cut of that money for himself as an administrative fee. People and organizations using these situations to enrich themselves is a valid point but it wasn’t fair to specifically single out the NAACP.

Yet, it’s especially valid in light of recent unfortunate events regarding racially motivated acts of violence against Black people. There have been several activists and organizations rushing in only for it to be found out that they’ve collected all this money and can’t show how it’s been put to use. That or they’ve used their proximity to these situations to become influencers and obtain cushy jobs and/or purchase assets.

This is a two-hour-plus movie and while it’s technically a courtroom drama, just about the last hour or so takes place in the actual courtroom. Much of A Time to Kill is the lead-up to the two sides facing off in court. In addition, you still have the simmering battle going on outside the courtroom between the side that supports Carl Lee and the side that supports openly racist child rapists.

It’s quite telling that the jury is sequestered but they’re out to dinner early on in the trial. They’re not supposed to be sharing notes or discussing the trial at this point. But they take an informal poll to see where things stand. One person thinks Carl Lee is innocent, four people are undecided, and the rest believe he’s guilty. The polling in and of itself isn’t an issue because it’s still early. But what’s troubling is that one of the jurors refers to Carl Lee as the N-word and states his belief that he will be found guilty.

This is something that’s kind of touched upon within A Time to Kill . What leads to this whole situation is the belief that with this situation taking place in the South things will go awry. First that the two White men who raped and nearly killed this little Black girl wouldn’t be seriously prosecuted and if convicted that they would not receive a sentence fitting the seriousness of the crime. Second that this Black man now on trial for the murder of these two White men would not receive a fair trial. That he wouldn’t be treated in the same way that a White man might be treated under these circumstances.

It’s going to be very difficult to get the right judge and jury while also dealing with the prosecutor. If you have this individual on the jury who openly uses the N-word to describe Black people, what’s the likelihood that he’s going to be unbiased? You’re fighting an uphill battle rather than starting from a neutral position.

As we get towards the end of A Time to Kill , things go left with one of the witnesses for the defense. Jake expresses that he thinks Carl should take a plea because he doesn’t think they’re gonna win the case. Carl reassures him by referring back to the earlier meeting between them and the NAACP lawyers. Jake feels he might not be the right lawyer for the case but Carl explains that he is the right attorney for the environment. There was a reason for him selecting Jake, a White guy, over the Black attorneys.

Carl realizes that Jake might not be openly prejudiced or a rabid racist like some of the other people in town but he’s from the same society. He and Jake live in completely different parts of town and their lives are very different. Under normal circumstances, they likely wouldn’t have any dealings with each other. Carl sees Jake as being the perfect representative because he thinks Jake understands how other members of his community think. He can speak to them on their level and make them understand.

They have a conversation about White people’s inability to simply sympathize or empathize with Black people. This is because they regard Black people as unlike themselves. Thus a White person judging another White person would be more understanding and sympathetic. Whereas a White person judging a Black person sees them as other and is less inclined to put themselves in that person’s shoes.

At first, Jake denies this but it gets the wheels turning for him. Presenting his closing argument, Jake leans into this idea and switches tactics. He recounts the attack on this little girl and the rape and attempted murder that set all of the other events in motion. It creates a shared feeling where they’re asked to imagine that they were Carl and someone had done this to their child.

It might not be legally right but they could understand someone taking the law into their own hands. Especially if they felt that there wasn’t going to be justice for their loved one. While presenting this argument, Jake has the jurors close their eyes and imagine the situation. But instead of imagining the victim as being a little Black girl, they’re to imagine her as a little White girl. And with that, they’re able to connect with this little girl on a human level within their minds.

The jury ends up finding Carl Lee innocent and for the most part, A Time to Kill ends there. At the end of A Time to Kill Jake and his family journey out to Carl Lee’s side of town where they’re having what appears to be a celebratory cookout and they join in the festivities while their daughters play together. It’s a nice Hollywood ending. But at the same time, I find it incredibly troubling yet also very honest. Do I think the case would have ended like this in real life? Not necessarily.

It does speak to the reality that there is a definite inability on the part of many White people to relate to and view Black people as human beings. We see this with these excessive force situations where law enforcement or even individuals are often the instigators and later claim to have been afraid for their life. People call the cops on Black people for no real reason beyond being petty, even in situations when they’re the aggressor. A Time to Kill presents a very realistic explanation of why even decades later, you still have this disparity between the two racial groups.

The reality is that this is due to how American society is structured, how Black people are represented in media, and the things children learn from the people around them. I do believe that many White people (and arguably other groups as well) are conditioned to not view Black people as being humans. Society encourages negative perceptions of Black people. This contributes to the disparity when it comes to the prosecution and sentencing of White people versus Black people. Crime is crime.

A Time to Kill is adapted from a John Grisham book. It’s a film with a Hollywood ending so things come together at the end and it works out fine. But there’s a lot of commentary throughout A Time to Kill about the different ways in which the justice system is unfair concerning race but also income.

Carl Lee was lucky to get Jake to take on the case and to receive media attention. Most defendants aren’t able to hire private attorneys or receive support from the NAACP. This is part of why when these cases happen in real life that they try to get media attention. They know that with media attention they might be able to get lawyers and other people involved who might otherwise be uninterested.

I try not to select movies for review that are merely entertaining without any social commentary or deeper value. I also try to ensure that the films center on either a Black person or some issue that affects Black people. That’s not to say that there can’t be any White characters or that the filmmaker can’t be White. But I try to avoid films that might feature a Black character but they’re in the background while the film revolves around the White characters.

Matthew McConaughey and Sandra Bullock certainly star in A Time to Kill . But there was some degree of balance with regards to Samuel Jackson portraying Carl Lee but also with regards to the sheriff. I felt this character was a bit more fleshed out and fully formed in comparison to characters in other films.

One that comes to mind would be Ghosts of Mississippi . It’s a different take on a courtroom drama but follows the prosecution of the murderer of Medgar Evers. In that film, you see next to nothing about Medgar Evers as a man it’s like his life which was quite significant is boiled down to one moment, his assassination. He’s an afterthought in the story.

I liked that Carl Lee wasn’t a passive character or a stereotype. This could have easily devolved into a typical “magical negro” or White savior film where the Black lead is just there with no real personhood. Early on in A Time to Kill , he’s the one that puts together the strategic meeting with the NAACP and Jake. He comes up with the strategy for getting some of the money that had been collected on his behalf to Jake and his family.

Overall A Time to Kill is a good movie as it’s entertaining and can be enjoyed at face value. But it also makes some valid points with regards to the justice system and some of how it can be unfair. It’s not only an entertaining movie on the surface but if you were to go a bit deeper there’s more substance. I recommend it as a good watch because there’s quite a bit to discuss. It’s worth checking out and I highly recommend it.

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Natasha is a marketer by day and a voracious reader at all other times. She developed a passion for history and storytelling as a child and became increasingly interested in global Black nonfiction and literature as an adult.

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A Time to Kill

A 10-year-old black girl is walking home from the store on a sunny day in Mississippi. A truck comes barreling down the deserted road. The occupants happen to be two drunk racists. What follows is a horrible crime against the young girl and eventually retrubution by her father against the two men. This is the premise for the movie A Time to Kill .

Carl Lee Hailey (Samuel L. Jackson) plays the heart-broken father who avenges his daughter's brutal rape by shooting the men responsible as they are on their way to their trial. He then turns to Jake Brigance (Matthew McConaughey), the man who defended his brother years earlier, to defend his actions in the courtroom. Helping Brigance along the way are Lucien Wilbanks (Donald Sutherland), Brigance's disbarred mentor, Harry Rex Vonner (Oliver Platt), his best friend and a shady divorce laywer, and Ellen Roark (Sandra Bullock), an ambitious law student. Together they fight for Hailey despite threatening phone calls, burning crosses on their lawns, and kidnappings. All these actions courtesy of the newly awakened Ku Klux Klan led by Freddie Cobb (Kiefer Sutherland), the brother of one of the murdered men.

From an entertainment perspective, this movie is almost faultless. It offers an engaging plot, an heart-warming story, and the characters present us with a complex interconnected web of relationships that makes us believe what we are seeing is real. McConaughey and Jackson give suprisingly believable performances and compliment each other well. The supporting cast is also impressive.

The major problem I had with this movie was that it uses sensationalist emotionally manipulative rhetoric to preach about racism (even though I feel the movie itself exploits current racial stereotypes). While this may have been the best business decision to make, I think the heart of the movie is in its theme of vigilantism. The question of whether someone who takes the "law into their own hands" should be set free, regardless of race, is basically swept under the rug. Immediately after Hailey kills the two rapists, the audience is led to assume that a white person in Hailey's position would be found innocent. I somehow find this more difficult to believe, given today's system of Justice, than Hailey being treated differently because he is black.

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What message is "A Time To Kill" (1996) trying to convey, exactly?

I just watched this movie for the first time and I have some problems with it. Spoilers ahead .

Long story short, we're in the eighties in Mississippi, two white guys rape a 10 year old black girl, and right before the two could face a judge for such crime, the child's father, Carl Lee, straight up murders the two, with also injuring a guard bad enough for his leg to need amputation. His trial follows and occupes the majority of the film.

The movie ends with Carl Lee getting absolved for his crimes and basically getting away with it as a free man.

This movie isn't exactly sure of what it wants to say. There's a small discussion between McConaughey and Bullock that revolves death penalty, which is also what Carl Lee faces, but it doesn't go anywhere. Theres also some heavy handed racism discourse, with actual KKK members being involved in the story, but that's really how far the movie goes with racism itself.

The movie is about racism in the sense that it's what drove those two white guys to assault the little black girl, as for they do behave in an overtly racist way, even calling the black sheriff the n word and stuff, but the movie... Isn't about racism?

The movie is about Carl Lee, who has MURDERED two people and injured a third one, who is facing the death penalty with his trial. For some reason, the jury, who is literally there to judge if Carl Lee did murder those people and hurt the third one, manages to claim the man as not guilty, because... He had a moral reason to act that way? WHAT?!?

Murdering people is alright if you have a moral justification to do so, such as the victims having hurt, raped or murdered someone close to you? Private justice is good? Fuckin vigilantism is okay? Is that what this is?

If Carl Lee, a black man of Mississippi, can go to a courtroom with a shotgun and straight up shoot two people to death and injure a POLICEMAN and just walk free after it because racism, then what the hell is stopping everyone else who finds themselves in the same position to act likewisely? This is literally the collapse of the justice system.

And even more idiotic thing that this movie does, apart from the absolute bonkers subscription form sheet that apparently the KKK gives you do become a part of it, is having the guard who lost his leg on the stand, literally admit that Carl Lee was the one to shoot him, having him tell the prosecutor that Carl Lee said sorry and that he held no grudge towards him.

Carl Lee is ultimately found innocent not only of the murder of the rapists, but also innocent of having injured a policeman at shootpoint. This is beyond crazy.

Plenty of witnesses were there, plenty saw what Carl Lee did, but I guess fuck it. He was black and he was a victim of racism, so his actions must not hold any consequence for them whatsoever.

I need someone to prove me that I got this movie totally wrong because if not, this story is kinda messed up.

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A Time To Kill

A time to kill review.

By Christopher Null

Facts and Figures

Year : 1996

Run time : 149 mins

In Theaters : Wednesday 24th July 1996

Box Office Worldwide : $152.3M

Budget : $40M

Distributed by : Warner Home Video

Production compaines : Regency Enterprises, Warner Bros. Entertainment

Contactmusic.com : 2.5 / 5

Rotten Tomatoes : 67% Fresh: 34 Rotten: 17

IMDB : 7.4 / 10

Cast & Crew

Director : Joel Schumacher

Producer : Arnon Michan , Michael Nathanson , Hunt Lowry , John Grisham

Screenwriter : Akiva Goldsman

Starring : Matthew McConaughey as Jake Tyler Brigance, Sandra Bullock as Ellen Roark, Samuel L. Jackson as Carl Lee Hailey, Kevin Spacey as D.A. Rufus Buckley, Oliver Platt as Harry Rex Vonner, Charles S. Dutton as Sheriff Ozzie Walls, Brenda Fricker as Ethel Twitty, Donald Sutherland as Lucien Wilbanks, Kiefer Sutherland as Freddie Lee Cobb, Patrick McGoohan as Judge Omar Noose, Ashley Judd as Carla Brigance, Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly as Tonya Hailey, Tonea Stewart as Gwen Hailey, John Diehl as Tim Nunley, Chris Cooper as Deputy Dwayne Powell Looney, Nicky Katt as Billy Ray Cobb, Doug Hutchison as James Louis 'Pete' Willard, Kurtwood Smith as Stump Sisson, Tim Parati as Winston, Beth Grant as Cora Mae Cobb, Anthony Heald as Dr. Wilbert Rodeheaver, M. Emmet Walsh as Dr. Willard Tyrell 'W.T.' Bass (the Defense Psychologist)

Also starring : Samuel L Jackson , Charles S Dutton , Arnon Michan , Michael Nathanson , Hunt Lowry , John Grisham , Akiva Goldsman

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A TIME TO KILL

(C, LLL, VVV, A, D, M) Christian worldview which examines the issues of man's law, God's Law and Grace and which includes negative portraits of black and white individuals and groups that try to use Christianity for their own purposes; 41 obscenities & 4 profanities; extreme violence including on-off camera rape of little girl, shootings, clubbing, hangings, torching, a man burns in his clan outfit, a woman is hung from a post to die, houses burn, man is beaten up, man is knifed, woman is beaten up; no sex except off-camera rape; no nudity shown though woman's blouse is torn off & a man has to remove pants for medical treatment; alcohol use; smoking; and, racism including cross burning, deceit, misuse of funds.

More Detail:

A TIME TO KILL is a carefully crafted attempt at surgically removing the cancer of racism. It is a story of Carl Lee Hailey, a father whose young daughter is cruelly attacked by two drunk white men out to harass the Black community. It is also the story of a young lawyer, Jake Brigance, who defends Hailey after he murders these white rapists in the courthouse. Around this courtroom drama swirls a tornado of racist passions. On one side is the KKK, re-established in the wake of Carl Lee’s vigilante justice. On the other side, are the NAACP and the black church who are trying to use the case for their own purposes. We soon learn that all men are sinners, including Jake, who took this case at the expense of all of his loved ones.

Novelist John Grisham’s faith is the foundation of this story, but there are those in the film who misuse and abuse this faith and the film seems to condone vigilantism as it plumb’s the depths of racism. The movie doesn’t treat the fact that Jesus died for our sins, but it has moments of forgiveness. Regrettably, the violence is raw, but not exploited. The language is raw, but Jesus’ name is not misused. A TIME TO KILL contains something to upset everyone, and yet at its core, it tells us that we are all called to love our brothers.

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• Cast & Crew

A Time to Kill - Full Cast & Crew

• 53   Metascore
• 2 hr 30 mins
• Drama, Suspense
• Watchlist Where to Watch

An adaptation of John Grisham's first novel that depicts the story of how a white lawyer defends a black man who is on trial for killing his daughter's rapists in a racially divided Mississippi town.

Screenwriter

Assoc. producer, cinematographer, production company, art director, sound/sound designer, special effects, production designer.

A Time to Kill – Film Review Friday

No matter what part of the world you live in, whether it be the sandy beaches of the Bahamas, the tranquil water villages of the Netherlands or the harsh deserts of the Outback, the one undeniable aspect of life is hate: hate for race, hate for gender, hate for actions, hate for attitudes. Like it or not, the reality of our existence is we, as humans, find extreme difficulty in living without hate. Many groups have been victimised famously by hate on astronomical levels, and because of it, millions of innocent people have been needlessly harmed because of a single powerful emotion. ‘A Time to Kill’ is one such film that explores hate in the modern era and one I firmly believe everyone should watch at some point in their lifetime.

My first introduction to ‘A Time to Kill’ was a few years ago when my mother showed me the scene where Matthew McConaughey delivers his closing argument. An impactful, heartbreaking recollection of the crime which sets in motion the events leading to Carl Lee Hailey’s conviction and a subtle revelation of the jury and the public’s perspective of the incident. It only hit me a few nights ago, when I first watched the film in its entirety the importance the film held. A lot of films and books focus on racism on a more macro-level, covering the Holocaust, the Jewish slavery in Ancient Egypt, the Civil Rights movement, whereas ‘A Time to Kill’ focuses on just how much hurt can occur in your own backyard.

The film mostly follows the trial of Carl Lee Hailey, an African-American who has been arrested for the murder of his daughter’s sexual abusers. His attorney, Jake Brigance, finds himself fighting for Carl Lee and himself against such dangers as the KKK, damning legal strategies and deceptions to make a martyr out of Carl Lee. As a race war strengthens and burns as the lead-up to Carl Lee’s trial gets closer and closer, it becomes much clearer that racism knows no bounds and the lengths of victimisation are beyond what we can truly understand.

Matthew McConaughey plays Jake Brigance and does so with such sensitivity and emotionality that I refuse to believe he didn’t deserve the Oscar for Best Actor. Even from the first time he hears of the sexual abuse, the subtle drain from his face was disheartening. As I said earlier, his standout scene is his closing argument, which he fights through on the verge of tears. Samuel L Jackson plays Carl Lee Hailey, a role which I’m actually disappointed in myself not for witnessing earlier. After watching the film, I have no idea why his portrayal of Carl Lee Hailey isn’t discussed on the same level as his performance in ‘ Pulp Fiction ’ or at least ‘ Coach Carter ’. I’d argue his best moment in the film is coming home to comfort his daughter, you can feel the hurt Carl Lee suffers from knowing that he wasn’t there to stop them. Kiefer Sutherland plays Freddie Lee Cobb, the brother of one of the sexual abusers and newly appointed KKK leader. Unfortunately, Sutherland doesn’t get too many lines to shine in the film, but his cold stone-faced expressions and monotone voice work well for a character so motivated by racism and bloodlust. Sandra Bullock also stars as Ellen Roark, with a southern twang in her voice, she does the job well in every scene like Sutherland, but still, not on the same level as McConaughey or Jackson.

‘A Time to Kill’ is an essential film for everyone to watch in their lifetime, it easily lands in at least the top three best courtroom dramas of all time. You can not say ‘ Interstellar ’ is McConaughey’s best film, you can not say ‘ Shaft ’ is Samuel L Jackson’s best film, you cannot say ‘ The Blind Side ’ is Sandra Bullock’s best film or that ‘ The Lost Boys ’ is Keifer Sutherland’s best film until you see ‘A Time to Kill’.

Mason’s Top 3 Reasons to Watch ‘A Time to Kill’

• An exploration on how hate crimes affect an entire community
• A courtroom drama about crimes you’re more likely to come across
• A tour-de-force of possibly the most important characters in each of the actors’ filmographies

Mason Horsley is a graduate of UOW with a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Arts, majoring in Creative  Writing and minoring in Theatre. He hopes to write and direct a feature film and has  been working on screenplays since he was 17. He writes film reviews for the Tertangala and  works on his latest project ‘The Last Film’ while working a full-time job at a fish market. Mason  despises reviewing films he dislikes and because of this, every review he writes acts as a  recommendation.

Credit Image: IMDb

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A Time to Kill by John Grisham

• Publication Date: June 1, 1992
• Mass Market Paperback: 515 pages
• Publisher: Island Books
• ISBN-10: 0440211727
• ISBN-13: 9780440211723
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The Killer (2024)

John Woo ’s “ The Killer ” was a true gamechanger, at least for this critic. The one-two punch of Woo’s 1989 action masterpiece with his equally magnificent “Hard Boiled” changed the way I looked at the genre in my teens, and truly inspired hundreds of imitators. For anyone in my age range who can remember watching “The Killer” (likely on VHS) decades ago, the thought of remaking a flawless film feels cinematically heretical. And yet Hollywood has been circling such a project for decades with  Richard Gere  and  Nicolas Cage  once attached in the ‘90s. After years of false starts, a remake finally emerges, limping onto Peacock with almost no fanfare or promotion. Directed by Woo himself, the 2024 version of “The Killer” is obviously competently made–the Hong Kong director still knows how to stage an action sequence, well into his seventies—but the truth is that this version of the film does absolutely nothing better than the original. It’s a movie that’s generally watchable but almost instantly forgettable, which the best of Woo never is.

Nathalie Emmanuel  (Ramsey from the later “Fast and the Furious” movies) plays the mysterious Zee, a stealthy assassin for a powerful organization run by the vicious Finn ( Sam Worthington ). The “ Avatar ” actor nails a certain kind of slimy power figure, the one who will pretend to have your best interests in mind but only as far as it suits him personally. When Zee gets a job that requires an assassination via samurai sword in a Parisian nightclub, the assignment goes sideways with the blinding of a singer named Jenn ( Diana Silvers ). Despite the fact that she can’t exactly point the finger at the killer, Finn insists that Zee take out the witness, leading to moral crisis for the murderer for hire. While Zee tries to keep Jenn alive, a Paris cop named Sey ( Omar Sy  of “Lupin”) gets this incredible case and crosses paths with Zee, giving “The Killer” most of its narrative thrust in that it’s a story of a criminal and a cop who may not be as different as they first believe.

Clearly, a lot of the narrative beats of the original remain, although the gender swap naturally makes a pretty big difference both in the Zee/Jenn relationship and the dynamic between Zee & Sey. The sort of dance between a killer and a cop, which many over the years even read as homoerotic in the original, has been shifted by the change but hardly anything has been done with that shift. Changing race, gender, and location should give “The Killer” a different flavor, but the truth is that there’s just no seasoning. It’s as if the writers ( Brian Helgeland ,  Josh Campbell  & Martin Stuecken) figured the swaps alone would be interesting enough that they didn’t have to do anything more. It also just reeks of a script that has been in development for so long that all of the passion has been drained from it with rewrites, producer’s notes, and focus groups. The original hums with energy in not just its ace filmmaking but its narrative structure, and there’s just nothing to care about here in terms of plotting, while additions, like a few flashbacks to Zee’s origin story, feel half-hearted and cheap.

Part of the problem here is that Emmanuel just isn’t an interesting enough performer to sell the strong, silent cipher that Zee needs to be. I’m not usually a critic who likes to judge the movie that isn’t there but knowing that Lupita Nyong’o was once attached to this before COVID shut down production reveals even more flaws in Emmanuel’s work. Nyong’o can do so much with body language and her amazing eyes that it feels “The Killer” needed to work, and Emmanuel simply doesn’t have the same skill set. Sy makes out much better, reminding viewers how charming he can be, but Silvers is a non-character, used almost entirely as a device.

Of course, most people aren’t here for performance, and they just want to know about the Woo of it all. He once again leans into his clichés—there will be churches, candles, birds, and slo-mo—but there are some undeniably nifty stunt sequences in the film, especially in the final act’s graveyard shootout. It’s nice to see real stuntpeople showing off what they do best under the direction of a genre master, even if it does feel like he’s lost a beat in terms of pacing, both in action scenes and overall. There’s huge mid-film sag in this too-long movie in which people banter about how to finish jobs during which it will be hard for Peacock viewers at home to put down their phones.

And that makes me a little sad. John Woo movies used to strap you into your seat, making the rest of the world fall away as you appreciated their action artistry. That’s just not the case here. And my biggest concern comes in the overall sunsetting of physical media and lack of curation on streaming. Want to watch the original “The Killer”? It’s not streaming for rental anywhere and costs about $50 on Blu-ray. And that means that this faded copy is now easily the most accessible, and there will certainly be people who don’t even know about the first film when they watch it. In that sense, it’s not just a remake but a replacement. And that kills me.

Brian Tallerico

Brian Tallerico is the Managing Editor of RogerEbert.com, and also covers television, film, Blu-ray, and video games. He is also a writer for Vulture, The Playlist, The New York Times, and GQ, and the President of the Chicago Film Critics Association.

• Nathalie Emmanuel as Zee
• Omar Sy as Sey
• Sam Worthington as Finn
• Diana Silvers as Jenn
• Éric Cantona as Jules Gobert
• Saïd Taghmaoui as Prince Majeb Bin Faheem
• Brian Helgeland
• Josh Campbell
• Matthew Stuecken

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The most intense thriller movie of the past 10 years is finally streaming again — and it's 93% on Rotten Tomatoes

'Hush' will have you clutching the seat in terror

The first time I ever watched "Hush" was at a girls sleepover, and being a very young teen at the time, I was expecting just another scary thriller to keep me and my friends entertained. But as the night went on, we found ourselves completely engrossed in the movie, not uttering a word to one another (or even going on our phones, as you would expect a teenager to do). By the end, I knew it was the most intense thriller movie I’d ever seen. 

But over a year ago in April 2023, "Hush" vanished from Netflix when the distribution license expired, and it remained unavailable for quite some time. Now, it’s finally available again on video-on-demand (VOD) platforms like Amazon and Apple TV. 

If you’re curious to know more about this incredible thriller, here’s why you shouldn’t pass up the chance to stream it right now… 

What is 'Hush' about?

"Hush" is a horror-thriller about Maddie Young (Kate Siegel), a deaf-mute author living in isolation in the woods. One night, she becomes the target of a masked killer who discovers her condition and decides to torment her, believing she will be an easy victim.

The movie revolves around a tense cat-and-mouse game between Maddie and the intruder. Despite her disabilities, Maddie uses her intelligence and resourcefulness to outsmart the killer, leading to a climactic battle for survival. The movie is notable for its minimal dialogue and effective use of visual storytelling and sound design, creating an intense atmosphere that will have you on the edge of your seat. 

'Hush' is a tense but incredibly clever thriller

"Hush" gripped me from the start because it’s not your typical horror-thriller. It’s incredibly clever in how it builds tension without relying on dialogue or jump scares. Instead, it uses silence and isolation to its advantage, making every sound, or lack thereof, incredibly significant.

The main character, Maddie, is deaf and mute, which flips the usual horror dynamics on their head. I found myself completely immersed in her experience — imagining what it would be like to not hear your attacker creeping around outside your door (and even walking around your house without you knowing). The movie made you hyper-aware of the environment, focusing on the tiniest details, like a creaking floorboard or the movement in the shadows.

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What makes "Hush" so clever is how Maddie’s disability, which the killer initially sees as a weakness, turns into her greatest strength. The way she uses her intelligence and resourcefulness to fight back had me rooting for her the whole time. Without using brute force, she decides to outsmart her predator, which makes the thriller not only tense but also incredibly satisfying to watch. 

"Hush" received plenty of praise when it was first released on Netflix. It holds a score of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes . Chris Evangelista from CutPrintFilm said: "Hush is quick and agile, and the script from [Mike] Flanagan and [Kate] Siegel always manages to be clever enough to be effective. Hush doesn't break new ground, but that doesn't mean it's not a bloody good time."

Meanwhile, The Fright File’s Dustin Putman stated: "So tense and involving as to make everyone watching a flinching, wincing, cheering participant, Hush ought to join the best works of Hitchcock, Carpenter and De Palma as a future teaching tool in genre film courses. This is how it's done."

You have to stream 'Hush' right now

I would highly recommend watching "Hush" because it’s a masterclass in suspense, turning the familiar horror-thriller genre into something refreshingly clever and intensely gripping. With its smart use of silence and a protagonist who defies the odds, this movie will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. I’ll definitely be watching this unforgettable thriller again now that it’s finally available after a whole year. 

Not feeling it? Check out the best thriller shows on Netflix or watch this intense sci-fi thriller movie that recently landed on Prime Video . 

Buy or rent “Hush” on Amazon or Apple TV now. 

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In remake of 'The Killer,' action master John Woo brings gravity and beauty to assassin story

Electrifying nathalie emmanuel dominates peacock thriller as hired gun with a heart..

Director John Woo finds a place for his trademark bird imagery in “The Killer,” starring Nathalie Emmanuel as an assassin with a crisis of conscience.

Universal Pictures

We’re still in the opening title credits of John Woo’s “The Killer” when we see a flock of birds fluttering across the screen.

In an abandoned church.

Why, there’s even a shot of a single bird, captured in slow motion.

From that opening salvo, the 77-year-old Woo is serving notice that the English-language (with a side helping of French) reimagining of his greatly influential 1989 action classic isn’t going to stray all that far from the original, at least in style and signature imagery. Though the story isn’t as dense and not as bleak as the bloody chaos of the original, “The Killer” is a callback to Woo’s Hong Kong movies such as the brilliant “A Better Tomorrow,” as well as his earlier American films from the 1990s and early 2000s, e.g., “Broken Arrow,” “Face/Off” and “Mission: Impossible 2.”

Woo’s work has been a major inspiration to generations of filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, and it’s a thrill to see the elder statesman delivering a kinetic and explosive thriller with amazing stunt work, whether it’s an extended chase scene or an extended shootout that reaches its penultimate moment with the heroine executing a breathtaking move that’s equal parts Simone Biles and John Wick.

“The Killer” is not to be confused with David Fincher’s masterful film of the same name from 2023, though both films begin with a legendary assassin failing to complete the job for the first time in their career, which leads to an existential crisis and the hunter becoming the hunted.

Nathalie Emmanuel (“Game of Thrones,” the “Fast and Furious” franchise) has the role created by Chow Yun-fat in Woo’s 1989 film and is an absolutely electric and screen-commanding force here as Zee, an assassin so deadly and mysterious some believe she’s proof that the legend of “The Queen of the Dead” is no legend at all. (She’s like a female Keyser Söze, only with far more style and fashion sense.)

British actor Sam Worthington does a pretty fair job of corralling an Irish accent as Finn, the obligatory mentor who recognized something special in Zee when she was young and desperate, and turned her into a killing machine. As brutal as their business is, Finn has a soft spot for Zee, referring to her as his “Cushlamacree,” which means “vein of my heart” and is akin to calling someone “sweetheart.”

Every time Finn hands Zee an assignment, she has one question:

“Do they deserve this death?”

“I wouldn’t ask you if they didn’t,” comes the reply.

In an expertly filmed sequence set inside a Parisian club, Zee uses a Samurai sword to take out a number of henchmen, and at one point uses one of their guns to take out a victim. That shot also blinds a singer named Jenn (Diana Silvers) and after Zee ascertains that Jenn remembers nothing of the killing, she decides she’ll take in Jenn and protect her from the people who want her dead.

On a parallel track but soon to cross paths with Zee, many times, is Inspector Sey (Omar Sy), a crusading cop who can’t be bribed or intimidated (unlike many of his colleagues). We also get familiar archetypes, including an arrogant and seemingly untouchable Saudi prince (Said Taghmaoui) and a powerful gangster known as “The Godfather of Paris” (Eric Cantona), and there’s a whole big thing about a stolen heroin shipment with a street value of 300 million Euros — but that’s just the impetus for a series of stylishly rendered action sequences.

Inspector Sey (Omar Sy), a crusading cop, keeps crossing paths with the assassin.

When Woo slows down the proceedings, he still holds our attention with nifty split screens and cool wipe transition shots. Even something as rote as a police officer interrogating a suspect features smooth camerawork that makes full use of the room and incorporates a two-way mirror. It’s just a beautifully made film, even when the proceedings turn ugly to the extreme. There’s even a dollop of humor here and there, as when one character says to an associate, “That’s just the Viagra talking.”

“The Killer” is not subtle in its religious symbolism or its theme of redemption. The score by Mauro Fiore is not shy about hammering home the action scenes, and the needle drop of the Grass Roots’ “Let’s Live for Today” pretty much announces the worldview of Zee and Inspector Sey, who go from shooting at one another to striking up something of an alliance due to a common enemy. In lesser hands those touches might be heavy-handed, but thanks to a legendary director at the top of his game, this is easily one of the best action movies of the year.