Ok, so here is my first attempt at a blog and movie review all in one hit.
I have just finished watching "A Time to Kill" (1996) with a star studded cast of Matthew McConaughey *drools*, Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey...the list goes on and on.
My opinion; good movie, good actors/acting, and once I managed to look past Matthew McConaughey with my lustful eyes I got to enjoy the movie and it's plot.
What I liked most about the movie can be summed up by the alcoholic mentor Lucien Wilbanks (Donald Sutherland):
"If you win this case, justice will prevail, and if you lose, justice will also prevail. Now that is a strange case."
If Carl Lee (Samuel L. Jackson) walks free after murdering his daughters tormentors, justice has been served. But on a second look, really, it hasn't. After taking justice into his own hands, he in turn made himself culpable and guilty. Gets me wondering whether justice in the end prevails. I am glad of the end result, but for me this is where the movie sours. The whole black/white equality theme always throws me. It always tends to be so cliche in the ultimate union of the two races and their ability to see past the colour of one another's skin and become life long friends.
One symbol/theme in the movie that has got me thinking, is the relevance of the mickey mouse tattoo on the shoulder of the Klan member. I wonder what the significance was...
It feels like forever since I have been in high school. My brain seems to have melted along with my ability to review/analyse a movie with any sense of credibility.
All in good fun though!
Cheers
ess
2 comments:
Quite a significant film to kick off our little union, Jess. The US has just elected it's first African/American President, though a quick look at any number of socio/political discussion forums in America will clearly reveal racial prejudice's are still rife in the brave new world.
I have not seen 'A Time To Kill' since probably around its release date, so details are a bit hazy. Having said this, i think the idea of the ambiguous nature of justice is universal. I mean, just last week in Australia, there was a debate on talk-back radio about whether or not the 9 Bali bombing members should be allowed to say goodbye to their families before they are executed. You'd think that the main issue being discussed in Australia would be the legitimacy of the death penalty to begin with. This to me gives further evidence of the not so black and white nature of 'justice for all'.
Regarding the cliche ending to the movie, i dare say that this is quite common amongst Hollywood movies, particuarly in the 90's - prior to 9/11 - when audiences were still content to view the world through rose-coloured glasses.
And finally, regarding sexyman McConaughey.. well, all i'll say is have fun in bed!
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