A Time to Kill (1996)

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A Time to Kill (1996)

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A Time to Kill is a 1996 film adaptation of John Grisham's 1989 novel of the same name. Directed by Joel Schumacher, the film features an ensemble cast that includes Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, Matthew McConaughey, Kiefer Sutherland, Ashley Judd, Chris Cooper, Oliver Platt, Donald Sutherland, Patrick McGoohan and Sandra Bullock.

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A Time to Kill (1996)

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Plot: Two white racists, Billy Ray Cobb (Nicky Katt) and Pete Willard (Doug Hutchison), come across a 10-year-old black girl named Tonya Hailey (Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly) in rural Mississippi. They violently rape and beat Tonya, and dump her in a nearby river after a failed attempt to hang her. She survives, and the men are arrested. Tonya's father, Carl Lee Hailey (Samuel L. Jackson), seeks out Jake Brigance (Matthew McConaughey), an easygoing white lawyer. Carl Lee is worried that the men may be acquitted, due to deep-seated racism in the Mississippi Delta area. Brigance admits the possibility. Carl Lee acquires an M16 rifle, goes to the county courthouse and opens fire. This results in the deaths of both rapists, and also in the unintended injury of Deputy Looney (Chris Cooper). Carl Lee is soon arrested without resistance. Brigance agrees to provide defense for Carl Lee for a much smaller amount of money than such a trial would usually require. He intends to enter a plea of not guilty by reason of temporary insanity.

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A Time to Kill (1996)

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The rape and subsequent revenge killing gain national media attention. The Ku Klux Klan begins to organize in the area, along with Dan Scott. Freddie Lee Cobb (Kiefer Sutherland), the brother of Billy Ray, calls Brigance and his family with death threats and organizes the formation of a Klan chapter in the county. The district attorney, Rufus Buckley (Kevin Spacey), decides to seek the death penalty, and presiding Judge Omar Noose (Patrick McGoohan) denies Brigance a change of venue. Brigance seeks help for his defense team from sleazy divorce lawyer and close friend, Harry Rex Vonner (Oliver Platt). He seeks guidance from long-time liberal activist Lucien Wilbanks (Donald Sutherland), a once great civil rights lawyer who was disbarred for violence on a picket line. Brigance is approached by Ellen Roark (Sandra Bullock), a fiery liberal law student from Massachusetts who belongs to the ACLU. Brigance is initially reluctant to accept Ellen's cooperation, but he later agrees to let her help with the case. The trial begins amid much attention from the media and public.

–from wikipedia

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A Time to Kill (1996)

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A Time to Kill (1996)

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A Time to Kill (1996)

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A Time to Kill (1996)

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A Time to Kill (1996)

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