Coming up. This looks like a strong line-up.
Watched: To Kill A Mockingbird
Observations:
- There’s a certain type of performance that you can’t get away with anymore now that cinema’s diverted its attention away from theatre in favour of realism - exaggerating gravitas, stretching tension to the point of absurdity and pro-noun-cing every syllable. It’s a shame. Gregory Peck delivers that type of performance here (brilliantly), and you’re hooked throughout.
- The scene in front of the jailhouse gets me every time.
- I forgot about the structure of this film, in that for a good forty minutes it morphs into a courtroom drama. It’s largely faithful to the book in that respect, and it’s impressive how you never get bored - if anything, it’s the most gripping part of the film.
- Robert Duvall as Boo Radley. Such an odd choice. It works, but it’s still odd.
- The understated star of this is Philip Alford, who plays Jem. Peck’s obviously incredible, but Alford packs so much into a comparatively small role.
- If Hollywood ever tries to remake this, I will never stop screaming.