A Time To Kill Reviews

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..."

An old-style Hollywood melodrama, effectively staged though making little effort to explore the issues involved; it's content to endorse vigilante action providing that it's not carried out by the Klan.

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..."

An old-style Hollywood melodrama, effectively staged though making little effort to explore the issues involved; it's content to endorse vigilante action providing that it's not carried out by the Klan.

"...[McConaughey] is dynamite in a performance of smarts, sexiness, scrappy humor and unmistakable star sizzle..."

"...Plenty of enjoyable turns....Casting McConaughey in the lead certainly pays off..."

"...Handsome..."