Gregory Peck at his best...

Rating: 9/10 (27 April 2009)

It's one of the longest & finest courtroom trial scene of my movie watching experience. Watching the facial expression of that black man named Tom Robinson on trial sitting on the confession chair just melts my emotions deeply. Next to those goddamn natural expressions you witness a mind blowing speech delivered by Gregory Peck as defending lawyer Atticus Finch (It reminds me the great climactic speech delivered by Pacino in 'Scent of Women'). The scene ends with touching standing ovation of all the black men in the court for the white lawyer who's the last man vacating the court & it's a moment where you feel to shout- What a scene!!
Based on Harper Lee's classic book the film is a moving story of thirties Southern America. Its classic story of a lawyer with the principles living with his kids & defending a case of a black man named Tom, falsely accused of raping a white woman. Although the jury gave racial verdict in the favor of the white woman & innocent Tom got killed himself in his attempt to escape from cops. There's also fine & equally interesting sub plot in the film between the children & mysterious neighbor Mr. Boo (surprising Robert Duvall).
Gregory Peck has played many fine characters but none of them is as rich and as controlled in performance as the character of Atticus Finch- a responsible widower father of two kids & a lawyer with integrity to his profession. His impeccable performance was honored with Best Actor's Oscar for this film. Apart from him the acting by all three kids as non professional actors is really praiseworthy.
A Timeless Classic.
Ratings-9/10