Charming and passionate

Rating: 8/10 (14 October 2006)

I previously saw this classic film when I was in middle school, but had mostly forgotten how the film went, and to some extent, even how the story went, so I decided to go back and watch it.
It was worth it. This film doesn't have the latest and greatest techniques of its time, but what it does have is a determined and capable cast, direction that really manages to capture the innocence of youth, and one hell of a story to work with. One little treat is the credits sequence at the beginning of the film--it contains some of the most gorgeous black and white cinematography that I've seen in a credits sequence. The rest of the film's "eye" plays like an enhanced television "eye", in that everything's shot fairly plainly, although some of the mis-en-scene is used well for suspense.
Really though, the film has few noticeable faults and manages to portray Harper Lee's classic in such a way that it retains many of its charms and all of its heart. It's very good; I recommend it. 8/10.