SPOILER- How did he LOSE the Case??

I’ve heard about this movie forever and was shocked when Mr. “Noble” Atticus, the perfect lawyer, LOSES the case!!! What’s more - he gave such an intelligent and correct cross examination with that dumb woman, that I can’t believe the jury still thought the black guy was guilty. It was clear she was an idiot, and that the poor black dude couldn’t even use his left arm.

Why is this story so praised? Peck plays a character that apparently was not a great attorney, and I don’t care if it does take place in Alabama. I thought the point was we were supposed to get a story that showed that despite racial prejudice, justice wins the day. I’m glad Joe Pesci did My Cousin Vinny (1992) which in a way, parodied this story (even took place in the same state) but ended up victorious!

It’s clear the whole town is racist and even the judge should be ashamed of himself to allow that verdict to pass.

Worse - the black guy ends up killing himself basically because even he gives up on the justice system.

So what’s the point in the story then? Atticus Finch clearly proved the trial that Tom was innocent. And the all white jury decides he’s guilty? The end? The narrative was such a downer that I don’t get why this is still taught in schools. Had he won the case, it would have been much more believable.

The whole movie is really overrated and misleading, so let’s get right down to why the story is overrated and doesn’t deserve the praise it gets.

1. Gregory Peck tells his children they are poor. Even though they have a maid and he’s an attorney. I’ve never heard of a broke lawyer before.

2. Atticus has an ugly daughter named Scout who really annoyed me. She actually got nominated for doing a bad Alabama accent, and getting into fights on the school yard. Her character is slow, dull and not very appealing. She has no social skills. Both Scout and her brother dress like hicks and again- to be an attorney’s child you’d think they would have better clothes.

Also Scout is a bully. She picks on another male student and beats him up for no reason, and later mocks him for putting syrup on his food. What’s funny is when she wears a dress to school, she’s still unattractive and unkempt. Nothing pretty at all about her. They should have cast a prettier actress. And one with stronger presence.

3. The movie is SLOW. We barely see the court scenes until the second half of the movie. The first part is all about the kids trying to see an old spooky mansion and the spook that lives there (Robert Duvall, who looks stoned). I’ve seen more tension in Leave it to Beaver episodes.

4. Gregory Peck claims Atticus is “the closest to the real me.” Give me a break! The real Gregory Peck was famous for playing dominant, dangerous men. Like his role in Duel in the Sun (1946) with Jennifer Jones. In that film, he played a bad boy who not only rapes Jones repeatedly, but also murders anyone who gives him lip, laughs in the face of adversity and thinks that racism is funny.

I find it hard to believe Mr Peck, who went from playing a guy from the wrong side of the tracks to a geek in bad tweed suits , thinks the latter role is closest to who he really is. What a square! Of course he would say that! It’s the movie that won him an Oscar. He probably stated this because Atticus is such a “gentle saint”. Who also is bad at his job since he can’t win a case.

NOTE: Atticus was also boring as hell! Would YOU want to sit and have lunch with him? He’d probably lecture you on why your burger and fries comes from “farmlands that treat their people with no dignity. I ought to go to court on that company.”

“And LOSE again?” Make sure to giggle when you say that to him. Since his character has no sense of humor, you’ll be laughing at your own joke.

I think Peck wanted Americans to believe this was who he really was because it makes him seem noble. And “the perfect man.” But it just made him
come off more pompous. Plus Peck was an Aries. They are far from boring and they usually are much more sexual and competitive, like his earlier work.

5. To Kill a Mockingbird is pretty uneventful. Not much action. A lot of speeches and “do the right thing” morales. And a lame ending. Lawrence of Arabia deserved its best picture Oscar that’s for sure.

Again I couldn’t stand Scout at all! The actress who played her still brags about the nomination and role to this day, even though she never made another movie. I can see why- her acting skills are dreadful! The actor who played her brother was much better.

Again, the fact that Atticus loses the case after giving such an commendable and correct analysis makes the writing tired and shameful. This is not an ending to celebrate. And we go to movies to escape from the clutches of the grim realities of our real world. Don’t we?

The only worthy accolade this film received was for Elmer Bernstein’s score.

FINAL GRADE: C