the best movie ever made

Rating: 10/10 (27 March 2008)

There have been so many eloquent praises laid at the feet of this fine movie by previous posters to this forum, I find myself wholeheartedly agreeing with them all.
I'll try to focus on a couple of aspects of this masterpiece, TKAM, that I haven't seen many people comment on ... they are "vignette's" that add their own peculiar flavour, in small but charming ways: 1) The opening credits: What an amazing piece of cinematography ! With Elmer Bernstein's simple but elegant music, and the sight of that marble rolling along, while an innocent childish voice of Scout singing and chatting to herself, while drawing and rubbing impressions with a crayon. Simply brilliant.
2) Mrs. Dubose: A crotchety old neighbour living two houses from the Finche's, who yells at Scout that she's an "ugly girl". Atticus considers her one of the bravest people he's ever met, since she was able to break free from a morphine addiction. The children imagine she has a Confederate pistol hidden beneath her shawl, and as Jem explains, "she'll shoot you just as quick as look at you". Atticus, in his charming Southern way praises Mrs. Duboses' rose bushes, while trying to swat his children with his hat as they hide behind him.
Again, a very brief little vignette that makes you feel as though you are living in the old South of the 1930's. Another brilliant diamond buried within this wonderful film, TKAM.