"A Time to Kill"

Film Review # 105296

African-American Studies > Racism
Film > Analysis, Criticism, Etc.

"A Time to Kill"

This paper discusses the social implications of John Grisham's movie "A Time to Kill".

985 words () | 9 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper explores how the movie "A Time to Kill" addresses the issues that surround the rape and murder of a young African-American girl, the justice dealt to her white rapist-killers and how the revenge meted out by her father is dealt with. The paper highlights how, with the characters acting as realistic representatives of life in the American South, the movie shows how racist socialization is both widespread and inevitable.

From the Paper:

"The plot of the movie "A Time to Kill" contains several social implications. Each one of these social factors plays a role in how the movie addresses the issues that surround the rape and murder of a young African American girl, the idea of "justice" being dealt to her rapist-killers, and with how the vigilante justices meted out by her father is dealt. While the protagonist, portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson has clearly committed the act of which he has been accused, his character is more sympathetic than the men that he has killed. The sympathy that his story creates in the minds of both the jury--and the audience--is such that it transcends the actual demands of the justice system."

Sample of Sources Used:

Beach, Janine. "Race and Coverage of the Jena 6: The Elephant That is Never Leaving the Room." HuffingtonPost.com. 21 Sept 2007. <http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20070921/cm_huffpost/065327>.
Brudy, Kristin D. The Drama of the Courtroom: Media Effects on American Culture and Law. 21 Sept 2007. <Kristin_Brudy_FINAL.doc.pdf>.
John Grisham: The Official Site. "Biography." 21 Sept 2007. <http://www.randomhouse.com/features/grisham/main.php>.
Ebert, Roger. "A Time to Kill." 26 July 2007. Roger Ebert.com <http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19960726/REVIEWS/607260302/1023>.
Free, Marvin D. Racial Issues in Criminal Justice: The Case of African Americans. Westport, CT: Criminal Justice Press, 2004.