Steven Sheehan’s review published on Letterboxd:
There are two ways to look at the adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird. One, is to view Atticus as the white hero racing to the rescue of the poor black folks pure Hollywood style. The other is less cynical, more humane and optimistic view that good people who can help others, will.
It is hard to dismiss that the story undoubtedly played well to white liberals who could congratulate themselves that they were doing the right thing for black people. Particularly as the civil rights movement was starting to make a noticeable impact on America. The book had been an instant classic, winning the Pulitzer Prize, left by its author Harper Lee as the only novel she ever publicly released.
Cynicism has gripped - the Western world particularly - for the past quarter of a century bursting a bubble of naivety that lasted until sometime in the 80's. Without doubt it has help offer a fresh perspective on notions once taken at face value, Joe Public now far more cautious to swallow what they are served without question.
The alternate, has set aside an ability to accept something for what it appears to be, for fear of be tricked, fooled or sidelined. To Kill a Mockingbird has its faults as a film but its heart is in the right place, the intention is meant. Hollywood has built a tradition of similar racial courtroom injustice movies and despite the merits of some of them, I'd rather that white viewers were offered moments to ponder the injustice that is still delivered to other races today. If that means being wrapped up in a slightly self righteous tone, then so be it. The message is that important.
Having never read the book I have nothing to compare this to, so I am unable to understand if the text offered a more balanced tone. Moving that aside, where it works best is through the eyes of the children whose burning energy controls the first half of the film. In that regard the racial theme works well to impact on their world, the injustice forced upon them speeding up their maturity.
Winning three Academy awards ensured a legacy continued after the release of the film, helped in no short measure by the popularity of a novel that continues to prove as insightful. Set over 70 years ago in Southern America, that the struggle continues to change cultural attitudes illustrates there is still some distance left to travel yet.