Starring
Matthew McConaughey, Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bullock

Co-starring
Oliver Platt, Ashley Judd, Chris Cooper, Kiefer Sutherland

Joel Schumacher directs this adaptation of John Grisham's first novel, set in one of those sleepy southern towns where all hell is on the verge of breaking loose for one reason or another.

Matthew McConaughey leads a superb ensemble case as lawyer Jake Brigance, who is called in to service when tensions flare after a black man (Samuel L. Jackson) is brought to trial for the revenge killing of his 10-year-old daughter's redneck rapists, crippling a deputy in the process.

As Brigance prepares his case, crosses are burned on lawns and anonymous phone calls occur. The situation becomes so menacing that wife (Ashley Judd) moves their family to safety. Sandra Bullock stars as young lawyer Ellen Roark, a rich Northerner who wants to be Brigance's unpaid aide. He discourages her, but she turns up with useful leads and he needs someone to help him counter the expert local district attorney (Kevin Spacey).

The support cast includes Kiefer Sutherland, Donald Sutherland, Oliver Platt, Brenda Fricker and Patrick McGoohan as the ominously named Judge Omar Noose.

Directed by
Joel Schumacher