To Kill a Mockingbird

As most people are aware, To Kill a Mockingbird is based off Harper Lee's highly successful novel bearing the same name. The book has been given a great deal of credit over time for good reason, but the movie adaptation is also excellent, thus I feel it is worthy of being judged on its own merits.

Not surprisingly, the first thing I noticed with the film is that it's shot in a vintage black and white style. This intrigued me at first as the movie came out in 1962 so the technology was obviously available to shoot the film in full colour since many movies before its time were done in such a fashion. Yet, there's a certain appeal to the movie that comes with the old style. By making the backgrounds within every scene so mute and mundane, it encourages the viewer to look past the presentation of the film and instead focus on what's actually taking place. The background of the movie seems to symbolize how boring the world actually is when you only gaze briefly at what's going on in the surface as there's simply so much more present if you take a closer look, thus if all you're looking for is a big blockbuster special effects film than I strongly recommend you steer clear of this one. Ordinarily, I would say that most movies need to boast captivating visuals, or at the very least colour, in order to liven up the action and intensify the experience as a whole. However, To Kill a Mockingbird is a rare case where this doesn't apply as the brilliant story and performances delivered in the movie are more than adequate to hold the viewer's attention.

The story of To Kill a Mockingbird explores the extremes of human behaviour. On the one hand, you have the noble Atticus Finch who is willing to defend an innocent black man in his trial even though he has no hope of winning his case and will be scrutinized for going against the wishes of society. On the other hand, the film depicts the general population as being completely ignorant and unwilling to move beyond their prejudices. Throughout the film, it's easy to wonder why Atticus never physically confronts these people as he is clearly opposed to their behaviour, yet he simply tries to talk to them even though he knows his words will inevitably fall upon deaf ears. Atticus clearly carries  a certain level of physical strength and intimidation, which is best displayed when he shoots a dangerous animal from a great distance to the amazement of those around him who thought his only talent was his ability as an orator. This is meant to show that while a physical attribute such as being able to accurately fire a weapon is admirable, the far more under-appreciated role of inducing change through non-violent measures is much more difficult, but also stands as the only outlet through which change can be attained in a civilization where brute strength is valued since physically harming others would only serve to uphold these invalid morals. Although the movie is focused on the issues of racism and ignorance, Boo Radley presents an interesting paradigm within the film. While racism is an issue that extends far beyond the boundaries of this movie, Boo Radley is the character who best represents the plight of southern American black people during this time. He is clearly misunderstood by those around him because he is seen as being insane relative to the general populace just as members of racial minorities are misunderstood and perceived as being strange. This misunderstanding and misconception can clearly be associated to a fear of the unknown. To Kill a Mockingbird really analyzes the depth to which society has allowed racism to exist because of this fear, and the movie becomes more provocative as this analysis is carried out.

In addition to its riveting storyline, To Kill a Mockingbird features some great acting performances. First and foremost, Gregory Peck is at his finest here as his long courtroom speeches are as emotionally profound now as they were almost 50 years ago. Peck's confident tone certainly serves the film well as he really gives off the persona of being an incredibly headstrong and determined person which is needed to play the role of Atticus Finch in his opposition to the general current of thought at the time. However, Peck is also able to speak intellectually and eloquently to prove that he not only has the strength needed to oppose adversity, but also has the wit to overcome it. The child actors in this play also deserve some praise as they really capture the sense of curiosity that most children have. In particular, the first half of the film explores this element where the kids try to spy on Boo Radley because they are curious and want to push the limits just like most normal children do at points. Fortunately, the film avoids the common pitfall with young actors where they turn out to be overly annoying and actually detract from the movie. The kids here are far more endearing and I wish more of the movies from our current generation would look back upon this movie as a stellar example of how to properly incorporate inexperienced child actors into a movie without them being whiny and overbearing.

To Kill a Mockingbird features a combination of engaging storytelling with convincing acting. The old black and white style of the film gives it a unique character and really encourages the viewer to look past the plain backgrounds and instead follow the far more important plot. I strongly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys the novel or anyone who wants to watch a timeless piece of dramatic cinema. Remember: Tis a sin to kill a mockingbird, but it is also a sin to not watch this incredible movie yourself.