In a small southern town in the 1960s, a black man awaits trial for murdering the two rednecks who viciously raped his 10-year-old daughter. A young, idealistic white lawyer takes up the father's defense, and the incendiary case becomes a firestorm of racism and controversy, ripping the town apart. Based on John Grisham's .. Read more
| Starring | Sandra Bullock, Matthew McConaughey, Samuel L. Jackson, Brenda Fricker |
|---|---|
| Director | Joel Schumacher |
| Genres | Drama |
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In a small southern town in the 1960s, a black man awaits trial for murdering the two rednecks who viciously raped his 10-year-old daughter. A young, idealistic white lawyer takes up the father's defense, and the incendiary case becomes a firestorm of racism and controversy, ripping the town apart. Based on John Grisham's bestselling first novel. PLEASE NOTE SOME OF OUR STOCK IS DOUBLE SIDED - PLEASE FLIP THE DISC TO VIEW THE SECOND HALF OF THE FILM
| Starring | Sandra Bullock, Matthew McConaughey, Samuel L. Jackson, Brenda Fricker, Oliver Platt, Charles S. Dutton, Ashley Judd, Patrick McGoohan, Donald Sutherland |
|---|---|
| Director | Joel Schumacher |
| Studio | WARNER HOME VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 23 mins Blu-ray: 2 hrs 29 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English Blu-ray: English |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Subtitles | DVD: Arabic, Czech, English, Greek, Hungarian, Icelandic, Polish, Turkish |
| Released | DVD: 11 May 1998 Blu-ray: 09 Mar 2009 Production year: 1996 |
| Format | DVD |
This adaptation of John Grisham's first novel cleaned up at the box office and propelled the then unknown Matthew McConaughey to the front rank of Hollywood stars. McConaughey plays an inexperienced southern lawyer defending a working-class black man (Samuel L Jackson) who publicly murdered the white trash who abducted and raped his ten-year-old daughter. Sandra Bullock is the enthusiastic law student who offers to help McConaughey. In the redneck corner is politically ambitious district attorney Kevin Spacey and most of the small town of Clanton, Mississippi, where the Ku Klux Klan exerts a sinister influence. McConaughey makes a good fist of the lead role, but, as with most Grisham adaptations, the real strength is in the supporting turns — Spacey, Jackson, Donald and Kiefer Sutherland, Chris Cooper and Oliver Platt are all superb. It's a bit too long, but, as most lawyers charge by the hour, why should that be a surprise?
"...The most satisfying of the John Grisham screen adaptations to date....Well served by a stellar cast....In the film's most riveting performance, Jackson capitalizes on his role's potent dramatic opportunities..."
A lot missed from the book. Not adapted well, rushed at the end, and it the jury does not do much as in the book, still a good plot with a predictable ending
A fabulous film, Samual L Jackson's portrayal of the father torn between staying on the right side of the law and getting justice was excellent. Matthew McConnaghy as the idealistic young lawyer does a brilliant summation at the end, a tip do as the jury does! for full effect.
Director Joel Schumacher and Jim Carrey are expected to join forces for a new movie entitled The Number 23. It will be the first time the pair have worked together since Batman Forever a decade ago, a film which featured the likes of Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Nicole Kidman, Chris O'Donnell and Drew Barrymore. It is a more serious turn for Carrey from previous comedies such as Bruce Almighty, Me, Myself & Irene and Liar Liar. Schumacher has a penchant for thrillers, having directed films... Read more