A Time To Kill


3/4

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Spacey, Oliver Platt, Donald Sutherland, Ashley Judd, Patrick McGoohan, Brenda Fricker

Rated R for Violence and Some Graphic Language

In his ReelThoughts blog on June 22, 2011, internet film critic James Berardinelli compared the cinematic versions of George R. R. Martin’s “Game of Thrones” to J. R. R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” saga.  He argues that the HBO miniseries, while good by any definition is merely a visual representation of the book.  The “Lord of the Rings” movies, however, are a reinterpretation of the stories.  “They used the novels as a framework around which to build three movies,” he wrote.  “They remained faithful to the spirit and thrust of the storyline but changed the particulars to create something that (in their opinon) was more cinematic.”

Such is the case with Joel Schumaker’s “A Time to Kill.”  Not having read the book, I can’t say for certain, but it feels as if all the important scenes were lifted from the book and put onto celluloid.  Every character gets their due, and no important scenes are missed, so fans will be pleased.  The problem is that not only does it pad the running time, it drains the film of its energy.  Books, especially long and complex ones, are not blueprints for movies.  They must be reinterpreted for the new medium.  When they are adapted effectively, we get “The Lord of the Rings.”  When simply put on the screen verbatim, we get something that, while good, lacks surprise.

That’s not to say that “A Time to Kill” isn’t worth watching, because it is.  Overlong, yes, but I found the film compelling and at times propulsive.  The performances are strong across the board, and it’s not often we get a cast like this.  That alone is worth recommending the film.

Ten year old Tonya Haley (RaéVen Larrymore Kelly) was walking back from the grocery store when she was attacked, brutally raped and left to die by two white men.  Her father, Carl Lee (Jackson), knows that even if convicted (which is a long shot), they will get light sentences.  Carl Lee grabs an assault rifle and guns down the rapists in the courthouse.  Now, hotshot lawyer Jake Brigance (McConaughey) must fight to save Haley’s life.  Tensions are running high, and it doesn’t take long for the Ku Klux Klan to become involved on one side, and the NAACP on the other.  Jake must decide how far he is willing to go to clear his client’s name.

The acting and the characterizations are exceptionally strong, which gives the film much of its punch.  Matthew McConaughey is an actor with limited range, but playing a flawed but idealistic hero is something that he does to good effect, and that talent serves him well here.  Like many heroes in this sort of movie, there’s nothing particularly special about him since he’s playing the everyman.  The color is left to the supporting characters.  Of greatest note is Samuel L. Jackson, who has rarely been better.  Carl Lee is a poor laborer, but more importantly, he is black.  But he is not as helpless as he seems.  He knows that the deck is stacked against him, but he is good at reading people.  Jake has a daughter like Tonya, so he knows that they share the same fatherly instincts.  Sandra Bullock is good as the feisty legal aide, Ellen Roarke, who says she is going to help Jake with the case whether he likes it or not.  Able support is provided by Ashley Judd as Jake’s wife, Kevin Spacey as the fiery and ambitious DA, Kiefer Sutherland as a vengeful white supremacist, and Patrick McGoohan as the judge who may not be as impartial as he is supposed to be.

The problem, as I said, is that the film feels directly lifted from the page, and as a result, is too long (the film runs at 2.5 hours).  Still, Schumaker should be commended for getting strong performances from his cast members, and for giving nearly every character their due despite having a cast large enough to be labeled an “ensemble.”  Some of the characters should have been given more screen time, or preferably, excised, but as it is, it’s not a bad way to spend a movie night.

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