To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

Absolutely this is now in my Top 100! I thought I had seen this movie in Jr. High, but as I watched it last night, nothing seemed familiar to me. The 1st hour is okay- it was more about setting the theme, developing characters, etc. The last hour was brilliant. This is a 4.5 star movie. The symbolism is perfect. I love how the first 95% of the movie is about justice- the need for Atticus (Gregory Peck) to give Tom Robinson a fair trial, despite the racial overtones of the townspeople (and of the Country during the time period this movie was made in!). But then in the last 10 min of the movie, Mr. Loyal, Mr. Law Abiding Citizen Atticus drops all reasoning and turns to mercy. He realizes that Boo Radley (Robert Duvall - on of the best actors ever to live and Adam's favorite) wouldn't stand a chance in court of a self defense plea. So they let the story go the way the Sheriff wants it- Bob Ewell fell on his own knife as he tried attacking Scout and Jem. Mary Badham (Scout) was outstanding, it is a shame she only made one other movie in her life (The Property is Condemned with R. Redford and N. Wood- and she was great in that movie). There is a lot to think about in this movie. I loved the poise that Peck showed in his character- unrattled by opposition. Definitely worth making my top 100 and it did!