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A Time to Kill (1996)

R   |    |  Crime, Drama, Thriller

A Time to Kill (1996) Poster

In Canton, Mississippi, a fearless young lawyer and his assistant defend a black man accused of murdering two white men who raped his ten-year-old daughter, inciting violent retribution and revenge from the Ku Klux Klan.

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7.4/10
117,944
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54 Metascore

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  • Ashley Judd in A Time to Kill (1996)
  • Ashley Judd and Wynonna Judd at an event for A Time to Kill (1996)
  • Sandra Bullock in A Time to Kill (1996)
  • Samuel L. Jackson at an event for A Time to Kill (1996)
  • Sandra Bullock and Matthew McConaughey in A Time to Kill (1996)
  • Kevin Spacey in A Time to Kill (1996)

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Cast & Crew

Top Billed Cast

Director:

Joel Schumacher

Writers:

John Grisham (novel), Akiva Goldsman (screenplay)
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Awards

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe.

Another 7 wins & 11 nominations.

Reviews & Commentary

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User Reviews
30 August 2000 | lspaiser
8
| I was surprised this movie was this good after reading the book.
I was very much drawn into the book, and thought that it would be hard to get the same feeling out in a movie.

At the beginning I thought I was right. From the beginning I was thinking "they left out a whole mess of details." I was irritated that they did not develop the characters better like in the book.

But by the 3rd quarter of the movie this was the last thought in my mind. And by the end I understood that the screenwriter had very skillfully budgeted his (limited) screen time for the most important parts of the movie, where it is well spent.

I think the acting of the principals was very good, and I found especially for Sandra Bullock as Ellen Roark - who was the most believable character. Although the rest of the acting was very good, I felt she was the most believable.

Which raises the main weakness of the movie, as good as it was, having read the book, I could not help being reminded that most of the characters were in fact, actors in a movie. Except for Ms. Bullock, there was a bit of woodeness to the "folk" in this small southern town. Also the plot is a bit contrived (but true to the novel). Most important is that (for me) it worked. I was moved. Its a very good movie.

Metacritic Reviews

Critic Reviews

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Among the numerous actors considered for the lead were Alec Baldwin, Brad Pitt, Bill Paxton, Ralph Fiennes, and Aidan Quinn.

Quotes

Freddie Lee Cobb: You can't blame a nigger for being a nigger, no more than you can blame a dog for being a dog. But a whore like you, co-mingling with mongrels, betraying your own. That makes you worse than a nigger. I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll leave you tied ...

Goofs

During the picnic at the end of the movie, a black youth with a dark scarf on his head stands in the yard. In the next aerial shot of the picnic, the same youth is coming down the front porch steps.

Alternate Versions

The first name of the Jake Brigance character becomes ''Jack'' Brigance in the Italian version.

Soundtracks

Antebellum
Written by Richard Paddison
Performed by Jesse Johnson
Courtesy of Dinosaur Entertainment

Storyline

Plot Summary

Synopsis (WARNING: Spoilers)

Genres

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Details

Release Date:

24 July 1996

Language

English

Country of Origin

USA

Filming Locations

Canton, Mississippi, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$19,630,000 (USA) (28 July 1996)

Gross:

$108,766,007 (USA)

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