Rating: 
Summary: Ridiculous story
Review: I guess the novel is to blame for the story. But then the film makers selected the novel, one must presume. The story is just silly. Just two examples: The lawyer, who desperately needs help, is approached by a beautiful woman who is very qualified, and who wants to help him for free. So what does he do? He turns her down! No reason for this even hinted at. Second: when they are about to lose the case, they finally get smart and win it by... (surprise) appealing purely to the jury's *emotions*, not logic. Great, a wonderful triumph for justice!
Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely Stunning Film
Review: I had the good fortune to see A Time to Kill in the theater when it came out in 1996. Like many other women who saw the film, I instantly fell deeply in love with Matthew McConaughy. His performance is so heartfelt and breathtaking, he should have gotten an Oscar nod. He did get noticed, though. People had a cover saying, "Where did this guy come from?" Equally high=caliber is Samuel L. Jackson's performance as a father whose little girl has been brutally raped by two rednecks.
The rest of the cast is very good. Sandra Bullock is, as always, a breath of fresh air. She and McConaughy have a lot of chemistry onscreen. Ashley Judd is good as McConaughy's spoiled, sorority queen wife.
The story is not for the fainthearted. A Time to Kill is not a light-hearted movie. It is serious, rich, and deeply moving. I challenge you not to cry. Race relations and personal convictions are put to the test when Jackson murders his daughter's accused attackers before they even go to trial. A scene where the Ku Klux Klan clash with black residents immobilized me with it's intensity.
One of the best movies I have ever seen.
Rating: 
Summary: I loved this movie.
Review: I have seen A Time To Kill 4 times and it keeps getting better. Matthew McConaughey does a wonderful job as Jake Brigance. Sandra Bullock is equally good as his law clerk. The chemistry between the two of them is incredible. My only complaint is Ashley Judd as Carla Brigance. Her performance left me cold. Jake's summation at the end of the trial moved me to tears. It was an awesome movie with a powerful message.
Rating:
Summary: Not to be missed!
Review: I recently rented "A Time To Kill" simply for the reason to cure boredom. It worked. I found myself riveted to the intense drama for the entire period of the movie. The acting is superb. Whomever chose the actors is the casting god in my mind. Matthew McConaughey shines in the starring role. His emotions jump out at you and grab a hold of your heart. His final monologue in the courtroom is the best movie moment that I have ever witnessed. Don't even bother to hold back your feelings for an attempt is a feeble one. The plot is inventive and addictive. Each twist and turn drags you deeper into the story. I found myself sitting in the courtroom with the characters as if I was actually in the story myself, and not at home on the couch. "A Time To Kill" is the best movie I have ever seen. I predict that this film will become a classic. How could it not? The story is excellent, the characters, fantastic, the emotions that the viewer feel are to real to let this movie sink into oblivion.
Rating:
Summary: Let's Not Kill, But Let's Watch This Anyway
Review: I reveal extremely important details of A Time to Kill in this review, so if that would ruin the movie for you, please don't read on. Samuel Jackson plays Carl Lee Hailey. Hailey kills 2 men who raped and almost killed his little girl, Tonya. It is up to Jake Brigance, played by Mathew McConaughey, to try to keep Carl Lee from either spending the rest of his life in prison or being put to death. McConaughey and Jackson give us great performances and so does most of the supporting cast. Kevin Spacey plays the prosecutor, who you might like and hate at the same time, with the brilliant flare I have grown accustomed to. Sandra Bullock is good enough, as the assistant to Brigance and Kiefer Sutherland is excellent as the racist, revenge-oriented brother of one of the rapists. Other actors who give good or great performances include: Donald Sutherland, Oliver Platt, Ashley Judd, Patrick McGoohan, and Chris Cooper. I agree with and like the racial messages in this movie, and think that they were very well implemented. I don't think the average person realizes how much racism there really is. It's not just in the Ku Klux Klan, a bunch of skinheads or even the bigoted "Archie Bunker" living next door. It's in you and it's in me. Until most of us realize that, and make a concerted effort to do something about it, racism will continue to live strong in this world. I like A Time to Kill a whole lot; it's actually one of my 50 favorite films of all time, but I wouldn't feel like I was writing a complete review if I didn't share my disagreement with the main message this movie seems to convey. That message, the way I see it, is that it is ok to take the law into your own hands, to break the law in order to execute your own version of justice in the form of murder, before the system has even had a chance to succeed or fail. If this case happened in real life, I would be very disappointed in the jury for acquitting Carl Lee. I view a jury's duty to follow the law as being similar to a country's duty to follow the principle of freedom of speech. These two ideas are opposites in a way but the philosophies and significance to society are very much similar. We shouldn't censor a statement just because we disagree with it; in fact we should support the right to say it, or freedom of speech won't work. For very similar reasons, we should not condone someone breaking the law just because we empathize with that person. "I'd have done it too, if it was my daughter!" A big problem with this way of thinking is: who is to decide what laws should be broken, and for what reason? You? Me? How about a member of the Ku Klux Klan? No to all. We should tell all people to not break the law, and if they do, they should be held accountable by the law, except in rare circumstances. If Carl Lee was legally insane when he committed the murder, I would not be complaining; but he wasn't, and the Jury knew that. And what if the murdered suspects are innocent? You can't even partially undo that kind of injustice. In A Time to Kill, the viewer sees the crime that Carl Lee is responding to; in real life, however, it is usually not that clear cut. If you take the law into your own hands, killing the accused, you are not only breaking one of our most important laws, you might just be murdering an innocent person. A Time to Kill is an entertaining movie that makes people think long and hard about very important issues, which is great; I just hope it doesn't inspire too many people to take the law into their own hands by either committing a crime, or exonerating those who do. Jeremy Barger END
Rating:
Summary: Gets better each time
Review: I saw this movie shortly after it came to video and thought it was a pretty good movie. Then a couple years later, I saw it again. And it just kind of stuck in my brain. I'll be reading or listening to something, and it will remind me of the movie. In conversations I bring up this film all the time because it is so relevant to important issues of our time. Racism, vigilante action, legal issues, etc. The more you watch this movie, the more it makes you think. And if you're not interested in thinking about some of the larger philosophical issues at hand, there's still plenty of stuff for you. You've got Matthew McConaughey who does a phenomenal job, and looks great while at it. Oliver Platt imbues his character with just the right amount of sleaze and charm that you can't help but love him. Donald Sutherland is absolutely lovable as the old-school gentleman (and you and your friends can argue over whether he's a lush or or a drunk/alcoholic). Sandra Bullock does a believable job, and the men tend to find Ashley Judd rather attractive in this role. And let's not forget Samuel L. Jackson, who makes his character so real that you understand the situation he's in and why he does what he does. So basically, there's something for everyone here. Thinking stuff with good looking people (male and female) who act well. Can't go wrong with this one.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie!!
Review: I saw this movie when it was first at the movie theater. I thought it was great and I still watch it today. I have recently updated my VHS and replaced it with the DVD.
I would like to comment about the other review that said it was too much. I have read the book and all that stuff did happen in the book. Minus the almost divorce. The book kind of hinted that it might, but it didnt come out and say it.
Rating:
Summary: most heartbreaking story of prejudice since the color purple
Review: I think A time To Kill is one of the most intriguing stories I have read. It shows the true struggle and prejudice of the kkk and black americans since the Colour Purple. END
Rating:
Summary: I loved it
Review: I think that it really showed people used to treat each other. IT also showed that there was a turning point comming between racial clashes. i loved this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Undecided
Review: I thought the movie was a good watch, but some of the stereotypes were overdone. I mean, I am from Mississippi (where this movie takes place) and for your information, just because we don't live in New York City doesn't mean we are hicks or rednecks, and the KKK isn't as prevalent as it is made out to be in the movie.
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