A Time to Kill Rating * Has redeeming facet Directed by Joel Schumacher With Matthew McConaughey, Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bullock, Kiefer Sutherland, and Ashley Judd.
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Grisham has sold more novels than there are readers in this country. I read The Firm in the hopes of divining the reasons for such an accomplishment and came up empty-handed. Though the book quickly fell apart, the opening chapters were admittedly gripping. Perhaps that’s Grisham’s accomplishment right there: he hooks you from the start and thereafter you’re a wriggling fish waiting to be reeled in.
As Carl Lee, Jackson summons up the requisite outrage and dignity. Sandra Bullock’s role as the “liberal” rich law student who offers to help Jake for free serves to show how good and strong Jake is for resisting such an attractive temptress and remaining faithful to his wife, Ashley Judd, suitably tan. With his blue eyes and quick smile, Matthew McConaughey, who plays Jake, has been acclaimed as the next big thing, the new Paul Newman. There is a physical resemblance, but this is an obvious example of what shall be heretofore known as the Slater Fallacy. Years ago critics were calling Christian Slater a future star because Jack Nicholson is a great star and Slater reminded them of him. Now he reminds everyone of Christian Slater.
Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): Photo of Matthew McConaughey examining Samuel L. Jackson from A Time to Kill.
