Friday, April 1, 2022

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

 Another solid, brilliant film..

Pros: While simple, the plot is also truly intricate and comes full circle, all through the eyes of the little children: Scout (Mary Badham), Jem (Philip Alford) and Jem (John Megna). Gregory Peck gives a brilliant portrayal of Atticus Finch, a hero, defending a man who should have never been charged with a crime as the only crime that occurred was a man beating the crap out of his daughter. The screenplay is top-notch, the acting superb and the entire general feel of the film is just so realistic.

Cons: Not really too many, though of course how racist many of the characters were and how stupid the jury was for believing that Tom Robinson (Brock Peters) was actually guilty of his accused crime. I mean, it is fairly obvious that Mayella (Collin Wilcox) hadn't been raped (though as a doctor was never called, we will never know for sure), but rather was caught by her father for having feelings for a man who was actually kind to her. Her father is a bully but gets his just desserts.

Recommend: Absolutely

Grade: A

Side Notes:

-So Collin is apparently a girls' name.

-Robert Duvall would make his screen debut in the small but pivotal and vitally important role of Arthur 'Boo' Radley. He prepared mightily role and is nearly unrecognizable.

-Kim Stanley is unbilled as the narrator.

-It must be awkward dressing up as a ham.

-Brock Peters didn't get the credit he deserved for this role. 

-Peck won his much deserved Oscar for this role.

-Spitting on someone is the rankest thing you can do to them. It is beyond disgusting (especially now with the COVID). But Atticus handles it like a champ.

-I wonder what the jury discussed for nearly two hours.

-The trial moved along incredibly quickly.

-The trial was basically a he-said, she-said sort of case. And while I normally believe the woman, not in this case. 

-Maple syrup on pot roast is gross. And I love maple syrup.  

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