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UK Mall 1 - A Time To Kill [1996]
![A Time To Kill [1996]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51RX51XDTEL._SL160_.jpg)
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List Price: £5.99
Our Price: £4.99
Your Save: £ 0.00 ( % )
Availability:
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, Oliver Platt
Directed By: Joel Schumacher
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Audience Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 5024165633663
Format: Closed-captioned
Label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Number Of Discs: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Release Date: 1997-09-22
Running Time: 143
Studio: Warner Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1996-07-24
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Film Exposing America's Racism & its Criminal VENGEANCE System.
Comment: When a 12 year old black girl is raped, beaten and almost murdered by two racist, redneck pigs, the little girl's father shoots both of them dead whilst they are being taken to trial.
He committed murder, he is as guilty as sin and nobody believes otherwise.
On the contrary in fact, the main question in this film is whether a black man should be allowed to take vengeance against whites.
Indeed, having based the defendant's entire case on the lie that he was 'temporarily insane,' the killer's attorney spells out this fact at the end of the film by asking the jury to imagine the little girl's attack and then asking "NOW IMAGINE SHE'S WHITE."
Throughout the film, the community is divided between the killer's supporters (mostly black) and the racists (including the KKK) who don't deny the right of vengeance, but believe that it should only be reserved for whites. And whilst the defence lawyer applauds the death penalty for drug-dealers and everyone else who he hates, he believes that it shouldn't apply in this case because he sympathises with the killer.
As I watched this film, I couldn't help but remember the cases of OJ Simpson and Tony Martin; a black man who was assumed to be guilty because both of the victims were white, and a murderer who went free after only three years because the victim was a gypsy and a burglar.
Every character in this film aside from Roarke (Sandra Bullock) is either a bigot, a hypocrit or both. And whilst there is a fascinating subplot about the brother's attempt to take revenge by joining the KKK, the film's genius lies in its exposure of the 'I'm Not Racist BUT' brigade.
If you want to see a shocking example of what's wrong with America and the rest of the human race, then I would almost definitely recommend this film. And if you're a Tony Martin supporter, then the whole point of this film will probably go straight over your head.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Should have been better
Comment: Carl Lee Hailey (Samuel T. Jackson) is a poor black man in a racially-divided Southern town. When two white men brutally rape his daughter, he decides to kill them and he does - in front of witnesses. The hot-shot DA (Kevin Spacey) is almost guaranteed a murder conviction, and novice attorney Jake Brigance (Matthew McConaughey) decides to defend Carl Lee.
This movie is so full of top-notch actors I expected to be swept up in the story and moved by it, but I wasn't; many of the actors are wasted and I kept wondering if it would ever end. Although Sandra Bullock gets top billing, she doesn't become involved in the film until an hour and fifteen minutes in, and then, she's in and out and never really clicks. The story should have focused on Jackson's character, but McConaughey is the star; he's perfect as a young Atticus Finch-type and definitely the best part of the movie. Spacey is mesmerizing as always in his off-beat way, but his part is a one-dimensional bad guy. The wonderful Chris Cooper is wasted in a bit part, as are Donald and Keifer Sutherland and Ashley Judd. Oliver Platt is just annoying as Jake's buffoonish buddy.
It's way too slow-moving as every nuance of courtroom protocol is tediously explored, while the rampant racial hatred of the town could have been an exciting movie all by itself. The trial's outcome is never really in doubt, but still it's a surprising verdict. The movie should have had fewer characters and subplots and let us connect more with Carl Lee and his family, instead of focusing on the handsome lawyer. I imagine this Grisham story worked better as a novel than a film.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good Grisham Adaptation
Comment: This movie based on the book with the same title, is about a trial about a man who shot some people because his daughter was raped, and the KKK is coming in, as the trial goes on. This is a very powerful drama, and a decent cast as well, Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bullock, Donald Sutherland, Kevin Spacey, Kiefer Sutherland, Matthew McConaughey, and Ashley Judd. Very great and dramatic acting, directed by Joel Schumacher, the man who brought Falling Down,Batman & Robin,Batman Forever,Phone Booth,The Lost Boys St. Elmo's Fire and many others. The scenes at trial were very realistic and convincing and the beginning of the film was perhaps the most disturbing in this movie, and the scene with the KKK coming in was also disturbing. A must see for those who have read the book, I believe they have captured the feel of it very accurately. Watch it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Worth a 2nd, 3rd, 4th and nth watch
Comment: This film was shown on TV last night and I have seen a few times, but every time I see it again, I always get a different feeling. Such a powerful film that touches you every time you see it. I am buying this film on DVD so that I can watch over and over again the court room session at the end, the way John Grisham summarises a lot of issues in Matthew McConaughey's summation, the last line he says in his summation just hits you differently...amazing - watch it and see.
This film is just excellent, it's not one of those films that makes you hate people but makes you hate the crimes that people do and how they affect others to a point were they snap, but like everyone else who has wrote a review, it raises an important question, can murder be excused, not justified but excused? Great peformances all the way through, Samuel L. Jackson, its wonder why he never got an award (OSCAR, GOLDEN GLOBE) for this film, if he ever deserved one, it was for this performance.
Customer Rating:
Summary: what would you do in the same situation?
Comment: A time to kill raises the moral issue on whether there actually is a way you can kill someone and get away with it in terms of it being justified,no the film isnt about war,thats a seperate issue for a different day,what you have here is the tale of a father (samuel l jackson) who kills two men on trial for the near murder of his little child in a state where the majority of people are white and the jury is white,hence jackson feels the case wont result in the two men spending time in jail.
You may say that i have given the plot away or said too much and the truth is i havent,i have only opened the door to you on the films theme and its handled brilliantly and the film is both moving and passionate,great performances by all the cast including sandra bullock,wow can you believe that,essential viewing
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Editorial Reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Film Exposing America's Racism & its Criminal VENGEANCE System.
Comment: When a 12 year old black girl is raped, beaten and almost murdered by two racist, redneck pigs, the little girl's father shoots both of them dead whilst they are being taken to trial.
He committed murder, he is as guilty as sin and nobody believes otherwise.
On the contrary in fact, the main question in this film is whether a black man should be allowed to take vengeance against whites.
Indeed, having based the defendant's entire case on the lie that he was 'temporarily insane,' the killer's attorney spells out this fact at the end of the film by asking the jury to imagine the little girl's attack and then asking "NOW IMAGINE SHE'S WHITE."
Throughout the film, the community is divided between the killer's supporters (mostly black) and the racists (including the KKK) who don't deny the right of vengeance, but believe that it should only be reserved for whites. And whilst the defence lawyer applauds the death penalty for drug-dealers and everyone else who he hates, he believes that it shouldn't apply in this case because he sympathises with the killer.
As I watched this film, I couldn't help but remember the cases of OJ Simpson and Tony Martin; a black man who was assumed to be guilty because both of the victims were white, and a murderer who went free after only three years because the victim was a gypsy and a burglar.
Every character in this film aside from Roarke (Sandra Bullock) is either a bigot, a hypocrit or both. And whilst there is a fascinating subplot about the brother's attempt to take revenge by joining the KKK, the film's genius lies in its exposure of the 'I'm Not Racist BUT' brigade.
If you want to see a shocking example of what's wrong with America and the rest of the human race, then I would almost definitely recommend this film. And if you're a Tony Martin supporter, then the whole point of this film will probably go straight over your head.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Should have been better
Comment: Carl Lee Hailey (Samuel T. Jackson) is a poor black man in a racially-divided Southern town. When two white men brutally rape his daughter, he decides to kill them and he does - in front of witnesses. The hot-shot DA (Kevin Spacey) is almost guaranteed a murder conviction, and novice attorney Jake Brigance (Matthew McConaughey) decides to defend Carl Lee.
This movie is so full of top-notch actors I expected to be swept up in the story and moved by it, but I wasn't; many of the actors are wasted and I kept wondering if it would ever end. Although Sandra Bullock gets top billing, she doesn't become involved in the film until an hour and fifteen minutes in, and then, she's in and out and never really clicks. The story should have focused on Jackson's character, but McConaughey is the star; he's perfect as a young Atticus Finch-type and definitely the best part of the movie. Spacey is mesmerizing as always in his off-beat way, but his part is a one-dimensional bad guy. The wonderful Chris Cooper is wasted in a bit part, as are Donald and Keifer Sutherland and Ashley Judd. Oliver Platt is just annoying as Jake's buffoonish buddy.
It's way too slow-moving as every nuance of courtroom protocol is tediously explored, while the rampant racial hatred of the town could have been an exciting movie all by itself. The trial's outcome is never really in doubt, but still it's a surprising verdict. The movie should have had fewer characters and subplots and let us connect more with Carl Lee and his family, instead of focusing on the handsome lawyer. I imagine this Grisham story worked better as a novel than a film.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good Grisham Adaptation
Comment: This movie based on the book with the same title, is about a trial about a man who shot some people because his daughter was raped, and the KKK is coming in, as the trial goes on. This is a very powerful drama, and a decent cast as well, Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bullock, Donald Sutherland, Kevin Spacey, Kiefer Sutherland, Matthew McConaughey, and Ashley Judd. Very great and dramatic acting, directed by Joel Schumacher, the man who brought Falling Down,Batman & Robin,Batman Forever,Phone Booth,The Lost Boys St. Elmo's Fire and many others. The scenes at trial were very realistic and convincing and the beginning of the film was perhaps the most disturbing in this movie, and the scene with the KKK coming in was also disturbing. A must see for those who have read the book, I believe they have captured the feel of it very accurately. Watch it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Worth a 2nd, 3rd, 4th and nth watch
Comment: This film was shown on TV last night and I have seen a few times, but every time I see it again, I always get a different feeling. Such a powerful film that touches you every time you see it. I am buying this film on DVD so that I can watch over and over again the court room session at the end, the way John Grisham summarises a lot of issues in Matthew McConaughey's summation, the last line he says in his summation just hits you differently...amazing - watch it and see.
This film is just excellent, it's not one of those films that makes you hate people but makes you hate the crimes that people do and how they affect others to a point were they snap, but like everyone else who has wrote a review, it raises an important question, can murder be excused, not justified but excused? Great peformances all the way through, Samuel L. Jackson, its wonder why he never got an award (OSCAR, GOLDEN GLOBE) for this film, if he ever deserved one, it was for this performance.
Customer Rating:
Summary: what would you do in the same situation?
Comment: A time to kill raises the moral issue on whether there actually is a way you can kill someone and get away with it in terms of it being justified,no the film isnt about war,thats a seperate issue for a different day,what you have here is the tale of a father (samuel l jackson) who kills two men on trial for the near murder of his little child in a state where the majority of people are white and the jury is white,hence jackson feels the case wont result in the two men spending time in jail.
You may say that i have given the plot away or said too much and the truth is i havent,i have only opened the door to you on the films theme and its handled brilliantly and the film is both moving and passionate,great performances by all the cast including sandra bullock,wow can you believe that,essential viewing
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