To Kill a Mockingbird
Wow! How do you write about this? One of the best movies EVAR. One the one hand, this is a story about a growing up in a small southern town. On the other hand, it’s a story of racial and class predjudice. On the other other hand, it’s the story of family life. On the other other other hand … well, there is just no end to the number of stories told.
Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck) is a lawyer in depression era Alabama who is assigned by the court to defend Tom Robinson (Brock Peters) from a rape charge. Atticus is also a widower and father of two children, Scout (Mary Badham) and Jem (Phillip Alford) and is trying to raise them with morals and a sense of right and wrong. Scout and Jem observe all of this. Some of the more esoteric ideas are explained by Atticus to his children, but they are never shielded from any of it. They are exposed to life as it is: good, bad and ugly. Then there’s the whole story with Boo (Robert Duvall).
The two child actors are outstanding, never once being precocious or annoying. In fact, this is some of the best acting I’ve ever seen. Every actor completely inhabited his character, including Alice Ghostly who, brings to mind her “Esmeralda” character from Bewitched only for a split second before she completely becomes Dill’s Aunt Stephanie. Outstanding in every way.
; would own
March 27th, 2006 at 3:46 pm
One question: How did you only get around to seeing this movie now?
March 27th, 2006 at 3:58 pm
Well, it’s been on my to do list for, like, ever. I always figured it would be one of the preachy maudlin movies with overbearing music and a Message.