Wonderful Classic

Rating: 8/10 (10 December 2011)

To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic film. I'm sure most of you know the story. Atticus, an attorney, is appointed to defending an African- American being accused of raping a white woman. I read the book when I was in 8th grade and was not a huge fan of it. Then again, I wasn't a huge fan of any book I read in school, which is one of the reasons why I detest the schooling systems. But before I go into any more of a rant, I shall share my thoughts on the film.
For me, the strongest aspect of the film was the acting. Gregory Peck played the difficult role of Atticus, but did a great job with it. I think that Atticus is one of the most well liked characters in film history. Robert Duvall was spot on with his short, but important role of Boo Radley. And finally, Mary Badham and Phillip Alford gave two wonderful child acting performances as Scout and Jem.
One thing I did not expect from this film was that a relatively small amount of time was spent in the courtroom. I think this was a smart move by the filmmakers, as it avoided any slow parts. Instead, it produces one of the best and most dramatic scenes in the entire film that is quick and to the point.
The only weakness I found in the film was emotion. This may have been because I already knew the story, but either way, I felt that there was little to cheer or feel bad about.
Overall, a great story and great acting makes this film a classic.