"A Time to Kill"

"A Time to Kill"  is a 1996 drama film adaptation of John Grisham's 1989 novel of the same name, directed by Joel Schumacher. Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, and Kevin Spacey played in this film.

The film shockes with its plot. A 10-year-old black girl was violently raped by two guys. They tried to kill her but she survived. Rapists were arrested and brought to trial. But before the trial deeply shocked father of the girl Mr. Hailey shot them with a rifle, wounding a policeman who accompanied two criminals. And there a real fight beggan. Mr. Hailey asked to help a young lawyer, Jake Brigance who once helped him. Realizing that the case is hopeless the latter took it. Brigance understood at first that this case will help him to raise his status. However with every judical sitting it becomes more and more difficult to acquit Hailey, as Brigance has to deal with an experienced and prestigious lawyer Mr Rufus Buckley who has power and money. Moreover the brother of a killed rapist tries to make his own frontier justice in order to take revenge on Hailey. He asks to help The Ku Klux Clan, an extremist and racist organization who begins to terrorize everyone who tries to acquit the Afro-American, including Brigance's family. Now for him it becomes a poiny of honor to win this case...

The film in terrible colors shows us the essence of racism. In such a horrible story where the honor of a person and even the honor of a child was affected, a man who was made guilty became the farther who just defended the honor of his daughter! And only because of his color of skin. We can see how people were ready to shut their eyes on violance of white men if the matter concerns the offense of the black man.

So the film impressed me..And the most affective thing for me became the real historical aspect. This is The Ku klux Clan. I think this is a very important aspect in the film because it conveys the main idea of the movie. The Clan is an embodiment of violance, racism and terror. I think in the film their activity is shown in vivid colors...

The Emperor's Club.

The film "The Emperor's Club" was directed by M. Hoffman in the USA in 2002.This drama film is about a teacher of the prestigious preparatory school, St. Benedict's Academy, who faces the huge disappointment in the person of his student even 25 years later. Such actors as Kevin Kline, Emile Hirsch, Joel Gretsch, Jesse Eisenberg and others acted in the film.

The plot tells us about the past teaching activity of the prep school teacher Mr. Hundert. He is ambitious and fond of his work. His new students, one better than other, try to receive his sympathy and respect showing him their knowledge. Seeing in his class the big potential Hundert inspires his students to study hard in order to become one of the three contestants for The Emperor's Club and receive the title "Mr. Julius Caesar", in a competition which puts the top three students of his class in a contest where they will be asked questions about the Classics.

Some time later in his class a new student appeares. He is Sedgewick Bell, a son of Senator. He becames the real trouble for Mr. Hundert. Sedgewick constantly is rude to the teacher, breakes up his lessons and demonstrates his indifference. Anyway Mr. Hundert doesn't give up. Driven by his principle that a teacher should not miss his students, Mr. Hundert tries to make Bell the best one. He even fabricates his quiz results in order to let Bell to take participant in the contest of The Emperor's Club. Anyway oт the competition Sadgewick cheats and Mr. Hundert makes him failed.

25 years later Hundert learns that Sadgewick who became an adult and who now is a candidate for senator, wants to repeat this competition where he was failed in order to prove that he is worth of the title of "Mr. Julius Caesar". He invites Hundert and his former classmates in his residence and arranges the competition. Asking questions Mr. Hundert realizes that nothing changed. Sadgwick Bell as 25 years ago cheats.

He understands that he missed this student many times ago and that notion of honor, honesty and moral principle are alien to him.

This film is about such negative side of teaching work as students' ingratitude. Every teacher should be ready for that. Even the hugest dedication to this work sometimes leads to no results. Putting our heart in the work we should understand that everything can be spoiled by simple ignorance. I absolutely agree with the slogan of this film: "In everyone's life there's that one person who makes all the difference". Through one teacher go thousends of students, but someone of them can fully change your own attitude to your work. But it is not the end of the world! Mr Hundert was faithful to his principle that no one students should be missed all his teacher's life. But he understood that some students are too callous in order to fight for them. Such students are missed forever, for even time didn't change them. But it didn't break him. He understood that there are lot of other wonderful and talented studets to whome he can be dedicated.

I liked this film. Moreover i'd like to single out the casting, especially the acting of Kevin Kline. He managed to represent a real good teacher who did his best for the sake of his students.He perfectly playes especially in the scenes when he understands that Bell cheats. I think he wonderfully conveyed the pain for his student through his mimicry.