A Time to Kill
A young lawyer defends a black man accused of murdering two white men who raped his 10-year-old daughter, sparking a rebirth of the KKK.
Critics Sentiment
Jake delivers his emotional closing argument about imagining Tonya as white
Jake builds his defense team with Ellen Roark and others
The film rises dramatically from Jake's despair about the case to his transcendent closing argument that moves the jury to tears.
A Time to Kill maintains strong audience engagement throughout, anchored by powerful performances from Samuel L. Jackson and Matthew McConaughey. While some critics noted issues with character development and melodramatic elements, the film's emotional core and courtroom climax earned widespread praise. The closing argument sequence stands as the film's crowning achievement, elevating the entire experience.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 81
Matthew McConaughey
Jake Brigance
Sandra Bullock
Ellen Roark
Samuel L. Jackson
Carl Lee Hailey
Kevin Spacey
Rufus Buckley
Ashley Judd
Carla Brigance
Donald Sutherland
Lucien Wilbanks
Oliver Platt
Harry Rex Vonner
Charles S. Dutton
Ozzie Walls
Brenda Fricker
Ethel Twitty
Kiefer Sutherland
Freddie Lee Cobb
Patrick McGoohan
Judge Omar Noose
Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly
Tonya Hailey
Tonea Stewart
Gwen Hailey
John Diehl
Tim Nunley
Chris Cooper
Dwayne Looney
Nicky Katt
Billy Ray Cobb
Doug Hutchison
Pete Willard
Kurtwood Smith
Stump Sisson
Tim Parati
Winston
Beth Grant
Cora Mae Cobb
Crew
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