Film Report

– A Time To Kill, Sleepers, An Eye For An Eye Essay, Research Paper

THEME: Vigilante Justice

1.0 HYPOTHESISMovies involving violent crime often position the viewer to sympathise with the victim who enacts the revenge by killing, thus establishing the premise that revenge killing is justified.

2.0 SYNOPSIS2.1 The way society views vigilante justice and the ideology that it is acceptable are the primary issues in three of the following American films, A Time To Kill, Sleepers and Eye For An Eye. These three films were tested in comparison with the hypothesis that states that the viewer is positioned to accept the revenge killing, thus establishing a premise that vigilante activity is justified. In A Time To Kill, a black father Carl Lee Hailey, is put on trial after murdering the two white men who brutally attacked and raped his daughter. Hailey’s lawyer, Jake Brigance, through his incredible “story telling” ability, is able to convince the jury to reach a “not guilty” verdict. This outcome seems to support the idea that the murders are acceptable, therefore insinuating a sense of justice, when in reality yet another injustice has occurred.

2.2 The killing of Sean Nokes in Sleepers is a perfect example of revenge being carried out in cold-blooded murder. The movie unfolds the dreadful story of four boys’ lives and the abuse they incurred at the Wilkinson Home for boys under Sean Nokes command. Now men, and at the crossroads of life, two of them murder the guard in a bar, promoting the act of revenge killing as being equitable.

2.3 Eye For An Eye is a film that establishes the premise that the legal system often fails, which consequently creates a situation that implores justice to be served in an illegal manner. Perhaps, it could be considered the most disturbing example of vigilante justice as both the sociopathic killer and victim’s vengeful mum are engaged in a dangerous game of provocation, intimidation and retaliation.

2.4 The issue of vigilantism in each of the three movies has proven the hypothesis to be true, with each of the films positioning the viewer to accept the killing and to sympathise with the victim as if they are the only wronged party. The philosophy that says revenge killing is a form of justice is constantly depicted to society through films such as the above. However, in essence the film makers carry an unseen responsibility to the viewer to unveil the moral issues that arise in modern films. A greater effort at presenting the moral problems faced by parties in films that deal with vigilantism would create a more genuine assessment and capture the seriousness faced in real life situations. Yet apart from this, it seems that film makers have neglected to show the real pain and suffering the surrounding family members and the person that enacts the revenge killing experience. Therefore, a greater emphasis should be placed on the issues encompassing the killing to portray a more realistic view.

3.0 INTRODUCTION3.1 Vigilantism is often a sign of public frustration in society today. This indicates to the vast majority, that the police and courts have failed to deliver security and justice and therefore perhaps cannot be relied upon in the public’s mind. This is the reason certain people groups in society choose to place their trust in vigilantism. Yet, these are often the same people who are in favour of democracy and strive to achieve a greater sense of equality among all. Eradicating vigilante movements once they are established is never easy, however it seems that films and film makers are doing little to hinder the growing movement by advocating the idea that revenge killing is acceptable, instead of encouraging society to trust the judicial system.

3.2 The hypothesis, ” movies involving violent crime often position the viewer to sympathise with the victim who enacts the revenge by killing, thus establishing the premise that revenge killing is justified” was examined against three modern and fairy successful films. A Time To Kill, Sleepers and Eye For An Eye all confront the issue of revenge killing, which encourages society to question the legal system and place the mantel of justice solely on the individual.

4.0 FILM Ù A Time To Kill4.1 A Time To Kill, based on the novel by John Grisham, is directed by Joel Schumacher and produced by Warner Bros. America. Set in a southern Mississippi town where racial tension runs high throughout community, A Time To Kill defines its perspective in bold strokes and without subtlety. The audience is immediately drawn into the story by the graphic presentation of two scofflaws joy-riding in their pickup truck, drunk and out of control. They harass employees at a black country store and then attack a ten-year old girl and brutally rape, beat and leave her to die. The girl’s father Carl Lee Hailey (played by Samuel L. Jackson), takes justice into his own hands and in an act of calculated rage guns down the culprits in full view of dozens of witnesses in the courthouse where they are to be arraigned for the crime.

4.2 With the help of his white lawyer Jake Brigance (played by Matthew McConaughey), Hailey is found “not guilty” because of Jake’s emotional, theatrical performance. The little girl’s horrendous plight is described in detail in the first moment of the defenses’ summation, however it is only at the end of the speech that Brigan