tieman64 "In conditions where everything is stacked against the majority, 'playing fair' amounts to accepting a position of disadvantage. In fighting for fairness, one doesn't have 'play fair'. It's the classic problem of Liberals - taking the moral high ground and leaving it at that. Power doesn't play by those rules. If you are looking to change the rules, why start by abiding by them?" - Mark Fisher Based on a novel by John Grisham, and directed by Joel Schumacher, "A Time to Kill" opens with a pair of stereotypical racists driving a pick-up truck into a poor African-American neighbourhood. The duo then assault and rape a young African-American girl. Later the girl's father, Carl Lee (Samuel L Jackson), shoots the culprits dead on the steps of a courthouse. These murders are justifiable, Lee's attorney (Matthew McConaughey) argues, because "the law is racist", would have pardoned the killers and would not have delivered justice to a black father. As a representative from the NAACP says, "Carl Lee's freeing for the killing of two white men would do more for black people in this land than anything since civil-rights integration." On one hand, "A Time to Kill" is your typical Liberal Deep South Lawyer Movie. Our heroes are righteous, upstanding and stand up for marginalised black folk. On the other hand, the film argues passionately for vigilantism (a trait usually associated with "conservative" films). For Grisham, vigilantism is fine when executed by the oppressed. Encapsulating these themes are the film's opening and closing sequences; Schumacher opens with racists spitting in the face of an African-American man and ends with an African-American woman spitting in the face of a white racist. What was once condemned, is finally embraced."A Time to Kill's" philosophical gymnastics and racial inversions are interesting. But they don't make up for the rest of Schumacher's picture. This is ultimately a cartoonish portrait of the Deep South. And like most films "about racism", "A Time to Kill" trades entirely in racial caricatures, with its goofy, "churchgoing black folk", "gospel choirs" and "mad rednecks". Sandra Bullock co-stars as a law student who exists only to get lynched on a tree and prove McConaughey's fidelity to his wife (Ashley Judd).7/10 – Worth one viewing.

Python Hyena A Time to Kill (1996): Dir: Joel Schumacher / Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bullock, Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Spacey: Corrupt drama eager to manipulate to please the crowd. Instead of concentrating on racial issues, it tries to make a case for one's sanity. It is an over hyped mess pitting revenge against justice where the audience is unfairly placed as the jury. A young black girl is raped and urinated upon by two white males. Her father shoots them both dead at the courthouse and is placed on trial. When a white lawyer chooses to represent him the Ku Klux Klan become riled. Directed by Joel Schumacher who dealt with similar themes in The Client. Samuel L. Jackson plays a father with redeeming regret. Matthew McConaughey is very good as his lawyer who faces the wrath of the Klan. Unfortunately the supporting roles are chalk full of dumb stereotypes including Kiefer Sutherland playing the redneck Klan leader. Why these concealed villains are portrayed as ragged seems like a forced portrayal as oppose to fact. Sandra Bullock is an unnecessary romantic prop whose purpose is to bandage up McConaughey and glance at his ass because he just happens to be wearing no underwear. Kevin Spacey plays a quick witted opposing lawyer who is suppose to fail because of the twisted message. Standard courtroom drama giving viewers time to kill. Score: 5 / 10

eric262003 There are a lot of deeming factors that makes "A Time to Kill" one of the most important films to watch. It's not a film for entertaining purposes by any means of the imagination. This intriguing story stars Samuel L. Jackson playing the part of Carl Lee Hailey, a vengeful African-American man who killed two rednecks who raped and nearly killed his young daughter Tonya (Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly). It all comes down to rookie hotshot lawyer Jake Brigance (Matthew McConaughey) to prevent Mr. Hailey from either serving a long-term prison sentence or worst, be put to death. The acting in "A Time to Kill" well performed, by rather large ensemble of terrific thespians. The leading performances of McConaughey and Jackson were both very engaging and quite colorful and a bit disturbing at times. The supporting performers turn in some very compelling roles and movie the film along quite nicely. Kevin Spacey shines as the prosecutor who might be a likable or a hateful character at times. But his charisma as a performer is something everyone respects of him. Sandra Bullock was brilliant as Brigance's assistant and law student, Ellen Roark. Kiefer Sutherland was excellent as the unashamed bigoted, vengeful minded brother of one of the rapists who was killed by Hailey, Freddie Lee Cobb. To wrap up this all-star cast includes Charles S. Dutton, Donald Sutherland, Chris Cooper, Ashley Judd, Oliver Platt and Patrick McGoohan and a cameo from M. Emmet Walsh. I'm not a racist by any means, but the philosophy that the KKK stated is not all that ignorant or narrow-minded by any stretch of the imagination. In fact it is pretty well documented. As a member of the human race, hate is placed in each and every one of us. Racism is not just formed in the KKK or the Nazis, skinheads or the iconic bigot himself Archie Bunker. Bigotry is in all of us. If a person is dressed differently, we laugh at them. If a person does things in his-her ways, we ostracize them. If you have a birthmark in an obvious place on your body, we insult the person. Everyone is capable of delivering hatred, it is in all of us, no one is safe from the wrath and hatred we inflict on each other. There's a lot to like about "A Time To Kill", but the message delivered here does not do any justice at all. I strongly oppose taking the law in your hands or relying on underhanded tactics like murder just to get even with someone. If this was based on a true story, I think it would be unjustified if they ended up acquitting Carl Lee Hailey. I expect law and order to be handled in very unbiased perspective with no excuses. Hailey's tactics was cold-blooded and unnecessary. He should have sued these rapists in court before going out on a killing spree. I'm sorry for what happened to his daughter and he has every right to be angered by the whole situation, but he is not entirely innocent for what he did.Another wonderful adaptation of John Grisham's novel beautifully directed by Joel Schumacher. It's a fascinating courtroom drama with wonderful performances and film that will have you pondering for ours giving your thoughts and opinions of those around you. I just don't encourage people to get even with someone, by taking revenge in your own hands but doing something regretful or let alone exposing those who do.

FilmBuff1994 A Time to Kill is a brilliant movie with a very well developed storyline and an outstanding cast.It is a very dramatic movie that feels very real and I found it hard to watch at times,not because it was really violent or graphic because it wasn't it was just because the situation these characters were in was an awful thing that really could happen and I felt like at times it was a lot to take in,particularity Matthew McConaghey's very deep speech towards the end.The performances are simply outstanding and were the main reason I found it hard to watch,their characters reactions were so realistic and they felt so human,I particularity found Samuel L Jackson hard to watch,he was so impressive playing this dedicated father,but it was so depressing and emotional watching him try to deal with what happened to his daughter.A Time to Kill is a fantastic movie that I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a great crime film or drama.When his daughter is abused by rednecks,a dedicated father takes revenge.Now on trial for murder,his lawyer is his only hopeBest Performance: Samuel L Jackson Worst Performance: Ashley Judd