A Time to Kill(1996 film)

A Time to Kill
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Joel Schumacher
Screenplay by	Akiva Goldsman
Based on	A Time to Kill byJohn Grisham
Produced by	Arnon Milchan John Grisham Michael Nathanson Hunt Lowry
Starring	Sandra Bullock Samuel L. Jackson Matthew McConaughey Kevin Spacey Brenda Fricker Oliver Platt Charles S. Dutton Ashley Judd Patrick McGoohan Donald Sutherland
Cinematography	Peter Menzies Jr.
Edited by	William Steinkamp
Music by	Elliot Goldenthal
Production company	Regency Enterprises
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date	July 24, 1996(1996-07-24)
Running time	149 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$40 million
Box office	$152 million

A Time to Killis a 1996 Americanlegal dramafilm based onJohn Grisham's 1989novel of the same name.Sandra Bullock,Samuel L. Jackson,Matthew McConaughey,andKevin Spaceystar withDonaldandKiefer Sutherlandappearing in supporting roles andOctavia Spencerin her film debut. The film received mixed reviews but was a commercial success, making $152 million worldwide.It is the second of two films based on Grisham's novels directed byJoel Schumacher,with the other beingThe Clientreleased two years prior.

Plot

In 1984Canton,Mississippi,ten-year-old African American girl Tonya Hailey is abducted, raped, and beaten by two local white men, Billy Ray Cobb and James Willard, while on her way home from getting groceries. The duo dump her in a nearby river after a failed attempt to hang her. Tonya survives, and Sheriff Ozzie Walls arrests the two men.

Tonya's father, Carl Lee Hailey, contacts Jake Brigance, a white lawyer who previously defended his brother Lester. Jake admits the possibility that the rapists will walk free. Carl Lee goes to the county courthouse and opens fire with an automatic rifle, killing both rapists and unintentionally wounding Deputy Dwayne Looney, whose leg is later amputated. Carl Lee is arrested, and Jake agrees to defend him.

As the rape and subsequent revenge killing gain national media attention, district attorney Rufus Buckley decides to take the case in hopes of furthering his political career. He seeks the death penalty, and presiding Judge Omar Noose denies Jake a change of venue to a more ethnically diverse county, meaning that Carl Lee will have anall-White jury.Brigance seeks help from his defense team: law student Ellen Roark, close friend Harry Rex Vonner, and former mentor and longtime activist Lucien Wilbanks, a once-great civil rights lawyer. Meanwhile, Billy Ray's brother, Freddie Lee Cobb, plans to avenge Billy's death by joining and enlisting the help of the Mississippi branch of theKu Klux Klanand its Grand Dragon, Stump Sisson, to ensure Carl Lee's conviction and death sentence by any means necessary.

On the first day of the trial, the Klan takes to the streets and rallies, only to be outnumbered by counter-protesters consisting of the area'sminorityresidents and whites who support Carl Lee's acquittal. The protest erupts into a violent brawl that results in dozens of injuries and the death of Stump Sisson. The Klan also begins to target Jake, assaulting his elderly secretary and her husband, the latter of whom dies of a heart attack brought on by the assault. They also burn a cross on his lawn and threaten his wife and daughter. When Jake refuses to back down, the Klan then increases their attacks, including kidnapping and assaulting Ellen and burning Jake's house down.

Jake is able to discredit the state's psychiatrist, Dr. Wilbert Rodeheaver. However, Buckley, in turn, discredits Jake's psychiatrist, Dr. Willard Tyrell Bass, by revealing his prior conviction ofstatutory rape.Dispirited, Jake tells Carl Lee that there is little hope for an acquittal and tries to persuade him to take a plea deal that will imprison him for life but spare him execution. Carl Lee refuses this, replying that he had chosen Jake as an attorney because he is a white man and has insight into how the jury sees Carl Lee. During closing arguments, a deeply-shaken Jake tells the jury to close their eyes and listen as he describes the entire ordeal of Tonya, to which some of the jurors shed tears. In his final comment, Jake asks the jury to imagine how they would feel if she were white.

After deliberation, the jury finds Carl Lee not guilty of all charges, including, evidently, the accidental shooting of Deputy Looney. Jubilation ensues among the supporters while the Klan becomes enraged over their defeat. Meanwhile, Sheriff Walls arrests Freddie Lee for his crimes, as well as a corrupt deputy who is also revealed to be a Klansman.

Sometime later, Jake brings his wife and daughter to a family cookout at Carl Lee's house to celebrate his freedom, challenging Carl Lee's previous statement that their children would never play together.

Cast

• Samuel L. Jacksonas Carl Lee Hailey
• Sandra Bullockas Ellen Roark
• Matthew McConaugheyas Jake Brigance
• Kevin Spaceyas Rufus Buckley
• Oliver Plattas Harry Rex Vonner
• Charles S. Duttonas Sheriff Ozzie Walls
• Brenda Frickeras Ethel Twitty
• Donald Sutherlandas Lucien Wilbanks
• Beth Grantas Cora Mae Cobb
• Kiefer Sutherlandas Freddie Lee Cobb
• Patrick McGoohanas Judge Omar Noose
• Ashley Juddas Carla Brigance
• Tonea Stewartas Gwen Hailey
• Rae'Ven Larrymore Kellyas Tonya Hailey
• John Diehlas Tim "Mickey Mouse" Nunley
• Chris Cooperas Deputy Sheriff Dwayne Looney
• Nicky Kattas Billy Ray Cobb
• Doug Hutchisonas James Louis "Pete" Willard
• Kurtwood Smithas Stump Sisson
• Anthony Healdas Dr. Wilbert Rodeheaver
• M. Emmet Walshas Dr. Willard Tyrell Bass
• Joe Senecaas Reverend Isaiah Street
• Jonathan Hadaryas Norman Reinfield
• David U. Hodges as Bailiff
• Randall Ponder as Courtroom Section Leader
• Octavia Spenceras Nurse Annette

Production

The film was mainly produced in and aroundCanton, Mississippi,using a soundstage built specifically for the production in the city's industrial park.Most location filming took place around the Madison County Courthouse and former county jail on the courthouse grounds.Other location filming took place in theJackson, Mississippimetro area, including theJackson-Evers International Airportand Hinds County Medical Center (now Merit Health Central).

Grisham did not want to sell the film rights to the book; he sold the rights for a record $6 million.He received casting approval for the film and overruled the director's choice ofWoody Harrelsonas the lead role, which was based on Grisham himself.Val Kilmerwas also an early contender for the role.Sandra Bullock also received $6 million for five weeks of work.

Decades later, Samuel L. Jackson was highly critical of the film's editorial decisions, claiming big, emotional scenes for his character were removed, which "kept me from getting an Oscar."

Reception

Box office

A Time to Killwas released in the U.S. on July 24, 1996. It reached number one during its first two weeks and grossed over $108 million domestically.

Critical reception

OnRotten Tomatoes,the film has an approval rating of 67% based on 58 reviews, with an average rating of 6.1/10. The critics' consensus reads: "Overlong and superficial,A Time to Killnonetheless succeeds on the strength of its skillful craftsmanship and top-notch performances ".It has a score of 54 out of 100 onMetacritic,based on 21 reviews.Audiences surveyed byCinemaScoregave the film a grade of "A" on a scale of A+ to F.

Roger Ebertgave the film three stars out of four, saying: "I was absorbed byA Time to Kill,and found the performances strong and convincing, "and added that" this is the best of the film versions of Grisham novels, I think, and it has been directed with skill by Joel Schumacher. "

The film was not without its detractors. Anthony Puccinelli gave the film one star, calling it "worthless" and remarking: "A Time to Killargues for vigilantism but disguises its message by making the vigilante black, allowing viewers to think their blood lust and thirst for revenge is actually empathy for the oppressed. "Peter TraversofRolling Stonefelt that "they [Schumacher and screenwriterAkiva Goldsman] cram[med] in too much, "adding," This distracts from the heart of the picture, which is in the bond between Carl Lee (the brilliant [Samuel L.] Jackson is quietly devastating) and Jake, a husband and father who knows he, too, would have shot anyone who raped his little girl. "Gene Siskelremarked it was "An overwrought, contrived courtroom thriller", "cornball" and concluded, "This story has been recycled out of countless better movies."

Grisham enjoyed the film, remarking: "When all was said and done I was happy with it, happy we were able to find a kid like Matthew McConaughey. It wasn't a great movie, but it was a good one."

Reaction in France

In France, the film has been the subject of controversy. Critics have accused the movie of making an apology for thedeath penaltyandright of self-defense.A question mark was added at the end of the title ( "Le Droit de tuer?" / "The Right to Kill?") so as not to shock the audience. Olivier Nicklaus of the cultural magazineLes Inrockuptiblesdescribed the film as "nauseating", "stinking", almost "fascist", with an "ultra-populist" script that makes one want to "vomit".Peron Didier ofLibérationcriticized the script, calling it "extremely dirty": the movie, says the newspaper, "only militates in favour of the Black cause to legitimize, after many plot twists (the resurrection of the Ku Klux Klan, courtroom trickery, all kinds of threats) the" insane "gesture of the avenging father". According toLibération,the movie "justifies the indefensible" with a "dripping sentimentalism".Jean Francois Rauger ofLe Mondewrote that "the film mixes the 'politically correct' alibi of anti-racism with the justification of personal justice since the accused is black and the action takes place in a city in the South of the United States. To this moralizing ideological bombast is added an emphatic staging, for a story full of useless digressions, a characterization of the characters so crude that it borders on stupidity."

Accolades

• Golden Globe– Best Supporting Actor – Samuel L. Jackson – Nominated
• NAACP Image Award– Outstanding Motion Picture –Won
• NAACP Image Award – Best Supporting Actor in a film – Samuel L. Jackson –Won
• Blockbuster Entertainment Award– Favorite Actress – Suspense – Sandra Bullock –Won
• MTV Movie Award– Best Female Performance – Sandra Bullock – Nominate
• MTV Movie Award – Best Breakthrough Performance – Matthew McConaughey –Won
• Razzie Award– Worst Written Film Grossing Over $100 Million – Akiva Goldsman – Nominated

Soundtrack

A Time to Kill
Soundtrack albumby Elliot Goldenthal
Released	August 20, 1996
Studio	Manhattan Center Studios,New York City
Genre	Classical,avant-garde,modernist
Length	35:02
Label	Atlantic 82959-2
Producer	Matthias Gohl
Elliot Goldenthal chronology
Michael Collins (1996) A Time to Kill (1996) The Butcher Boy (1998)

Elliot Goldenthalscored the film.AllMusicgave the soundtrack two and a half stars out of five, commenting that it "doesn't work particularly well when it's separated from the film itself."

1. "Defile and Lament" – 2:33
2. "Consolation" – 2:23
3. "Justice Wheel" – 0:46
4. "Pavanefor Solace "– 2:29
5. "Abduction" – 2:58
6. "An Asurrendering" – 1:35
7. "Pavane for Loss" – 1:07
8. "Take My Hand, Precious Lord"/" Retribution "byThe Jones Sisters– 6:50
9. "Torch and Hood" – 2:02
10. "Pressing Judgement" – 1:29
11. "White Sheet" – 2:38
12. "Pavane for Solace" (piano solo) – 2:06
13. "Verdict Fanfare" (For Aaron) – 4:03
14. "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" byCissy Houston– 4:03

See also

• Jury nullification
• Vigilante film
• Trial movies
• The Act of Killing

External links

• A Time to KillatIMDb
• A Time to KillatAllMovie
• A Time to Killat theTCM Movie Database
• A Time to KillatBox Office Mojo