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A Time to Kill

  • 19961996
  • RR
  • 2h 29m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
155K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
435
80
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew McConaughey, and RaéVen Kelly in A Time to Kill (1996)
Home Video Trailer from Unknown
Play trailer2:29
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Thriller

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 ... Read allIn 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.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.

IMDb RATING
7.4/10
155K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
435
80
  • Director
    • Joel Schumacher
  • Writers
    • John Grisham(novel "A Time To Kill")
    • Akiva Goldsman(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Matthew McConaughey
    • Sandra Bullock
    • Samuel L. Jackson
Top credits
  • Director
    • Joel Schumacher
  • Writers
    • John Grisham(novel "A Time To Kill")
    • Akiva Goldsman(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Matthew McConaughey
    • Sandra Bullock
    • Samuel L. Jackson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 302User reviews
    • 82Critic reviews
    • 54Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 12 nominations

    Videos1

    A Time To Kill (2006)
    Trailer 2:29
    A Time To Kill (2006)

    Photos142

    Samuel L. Jackson and Matthew McConaughey in A Time to Kill (1996)
    Matthew McConaughey in A Time to Kill (1996)
    Sandra Bullock and Matthew McConaughey in A Time to Kill (1996)
    Sandra Bullock in A Time to Kill (1996)
    Kevin Spacey in A Time to Kill (1996)
    Ashley Judd in A Time to Kill (1996)
    Samuel L. Jackson, RaéVen Kelly, and Tonea Stewart in A Time to Kill (1996)
    Sandra Bullock, Matthew McConaughey, and Oliver Platt in A Time to Kill (1996)
    Jack Brigance questions Carl Lee Hailey, who is accused of murdering two racist thugs.
    Sandra Bullock and Matthew McConaughey in A Time to Kill (1996)
    Sandra Bullock and Matthew McConaughey at an event for A Time to Kill (1996)
    Octavia Spencer at an event for A Time to Kill (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Matthew McConaughey
    Matthew McConaughey
    • Jake Tyler Briganceas Jake Tyler Brigance
    Sandra Bullock
    Sandra Bullock
    • Ellen Roarkas Ellen Roark
    Samuel L. Jackson
    Samuel L. Jackson
    • Carl Lee Haileyas Carl Lee Hailey
    Kevin Spacey
    Kevin Spacey
    • D.A. Rufus Buckleyas D.A. Rufus Buckley
    Oliver Platt
    Oliver Platt
    • Harry Rex Vonneras Harry Rex Vonner
    Charles S. Dutton
    Charles S. Dutton
    • Sheriff Ozzie Wallsas Sheriff Ozzie Walls
    Brenda Fricker
    Brenda Fricker
    • Ethel Twittyas Ethel Twitty
    Donald Sutherland
    Donald Sutherland
    • Lucien Wilbanksas Lucien Wilbanks
    Kiefer Sutherland
    Kiefer Sutherland
    • Freddie Lee Cobbas Freddie Lee Cobb
    Patrick McGoohan
    Patrick McGoohan
    • Judge Omar Nooseas Judge Omar Noose
    Ashley Judd
    Ashley Judd
    • Carla Briganceas Carla Brigance
    Tonea Stewart
    Tonea Stewart
    • Gwen Haileyas Gwen Hailey
    RaéVen Kelly
    RaéVen Kelly
    • Tonya Haileyas Tonya Hailey
    • (as RaéVen Larrymore Kelly)
    Darrin Mitchell
    • Skip Haileyas Skip Hailey
    LaConte McGrew
    • Slim Haileyas Slim Hailey
    Devin Lloyd
    • Willie Haileyas Willie Hailey
    John Diehl
    John Diehl
    • Tim Nunleyas Tim Nunley
    Chris Cooper
    Chris Cooper
    • Deputy Dwayne Powell Looneyas Deputy Dwayne Powell Looney
    • Director
      • Joel Schumacher
    • Writers
      • John Grisham(novel "A Time To Kill")
      • Akiva Goldsman(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    When Tonya Hailey, an innocent little African-American girl is raped and beaten by 2 beer-guzzling rednecks, the town of Clanton, Mississippi is shocked. Her father Carl Lee Hailey is outraged, and figuring he could not see those boys set free, decides to take justice into his own hands and kills them in the court house, in front of numerous witnesses. Now it's up to Jake Brigance to get Carl Lee off the hook. He has people that help him, but he is up against tough D.A. Rufus Buckley. Will he be able to prove that a black man can get a fair trial in Mississippi? —Alexis <LSmith6135@aol.com>
    • vigilante justice
    • vigilantism
    • insanity plea
    • assault rifle
    • mississippi
    • 178 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • A lawyer and his assistant fighting to save a father on trial for murder. A time to question what they believe. A time to doubt what they trust. And no time for mistakes.
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for violence and some graphic language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Matthew McConaughey auditioned for the role of Freddie Lee Cobb. After reading the script, he preferred the role of Jake Brigance but didn't think they would cast him due to his experience level. He went to director Joel Schumacher, who granted him a private screentest.
    • Goofs
      When Jake calls Max after the fire, Max tries to run past him, apparently toward the off-screen dog wrangler.
    • Quotes

      Jake Tyler Brigance: [in his summation, talking about Tonya Hailey] I want to tell you a story. I'm going to ask you all to close your eyes while I tell you the story. I want you to listen to me. I want you to listen to yourselves. Go ahead. Close your eyes, please. This is a story about a little girl walking home from the grocery store one sunny afternoon. I want you to picture this little girl. Suddenly a truck races up. Two men jump out and grab her. They drag her into a nearby field and they tie her up and they rip her clothes from her body. Now they climb on. First one, then the other, raping her, shattering everything innocent and pure with a vicious thrust in a fog of drunken breath and sweat. And when they're done, after they've killed her tiny womb, murdered any chance for her to have children, to have life beyond her own, they decide to use her for target practice. They start throwing full beer cans at her. They throw them so hard that it tears the flesh all the way to her bones. Then they urinate on her. Now comes the hanging. They have a rope. They tie a noose. Imagine the noose going tight around her neck and with a sudden blinding jerk she's pulled into the air and her feet and legs go kicking. They don't find the ground. The hanging branch isn't strong enough. It snaps and she falls back to the earth. So they pick her up, throw her in the back of the truck and drive out to Foggy Creek Bridge. Pitch her over the edge. And she drops some thirty feet down to the creek bottom below. Can you see her? Her raped, beaten, broken body soaked in their urine, soaked in their semen, soaked in her blood, left to die. Can you see her? I want you to picture that little girl. Now imagine she's white.

    • Alternate versions
      The first name of the Jake Brigance character becomes ''Jack'' Brigance in the Italian version.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Multiplicity/The Frighteners/Kazaam/Fled/Celestial Clockwork (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Take My Hand Precious Lord
      Written by Thomas A. Dorsey

      Produced by Matthew Johnson and Bruce Watson

      Performed by The Jones Sisters

      Courtesy of Fat Possum Records

    User reviews302

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    An entertaining spectacle with a nice comment on justice
    Courtroom dramas are well known for providing thrilling films, and that is exactly what 'A Time to Kill' thrives on; entertainment value. It is clear that the film, in spite of having some very potent themes, puts most of it's focus on being entertaining and it's actually not a bad film for it. Sometimes, films that want to be entertaining and have themes fall down because they're too entertaining and the themes get left by the wayside; but A Time to Kill puts its cards on the table from the start, and it's always clear what this film wants to do with itself. The plot follows a man who, after his daughter is raped and almost murdered, decides to take the law into his own hands. However, this man is also a black man living in a white supremacy state, and so the film injects a racism theme into it's plot, which is always going to mean that it will have some sort of social commentary within it. However, that isn't the most interesting comment that the film wants to make; as that plaudit falls to the idea of justice, and exactly what justice is.

    The film, based on a novel by crime writer John Grisham, presents an impossible situation to the viewer and central characters; what do you do when justice will prevail whatever the verdict? The viewer and the characters must then make a choice between the law and general morality, and it is there where the film draws it's most interesting plot point from. While, as mentioned, it's always clear that this movie is meant to entertain you; it's always nice to be given something to think about as well. A Time to Kill benefits immensely from an absolutely fabulous cast, which includes the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bullock, Kevin Spacey, Kiefer Sutherland, his father Donald Sutherland, Ashley Judd, Chris Cooper and more, all of which are lead by Matthew McConaughey. It is the lead that most lets the film down, as although McConaughey can definitely act, he's not quite charismatic enough to deliver a lead performance in front of that cast. Still, the movie is definitely very decent and although you probably wont hurt your brain watching it, it will entertain you.
    helpful•74
    37
    • The_Void
    • May 22, 2005

    FAQ5

    • Why are Jake, Carla and Carl Lee Hailey are very sweaty on some shots in the film?
    • What is 'A Time to Kill' about?
    • Is 'A Time to Kill' based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 24, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Một Thời Để Giết
    • Filming locations
      • London, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • New Regency Productions
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $40,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $108,766,007
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $14,823,159
      • Jul 28, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $152,266,007
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 29 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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