What Makes "To Kill A Mockingbird" Great.

This Faithful adaption of the classic novel by Harper Lee retains the spirit and message of its source material from book to screen. This leads it to be both a powerful drama and coming of age tale led by Gregory Peck's legendary Oscar-Winning performance.

Set in a small town in Alabama in the 1930s, Scout Finch and her older brother Jem are raised by their widowed father Atticus Finch, who works as a lawyer. Scout and Jem come of age through the various lessons and experiences, most notably from Atticus, who is appointed as the defense lawyer of a black man accused of rape.

To kill a Mockingbird is known for tackling important issues and themes, but what makes its message powerful is the way it's presented. While Peck has top billing as Atticus Finch, the film is told entirely through the perspective of his two children, particularly Scout. This is further shown in the film's pacing which feels very episodic, which is fitting since the film takes place through the eyes of children. Several segments have nothing to do with the main premise of the film at first. But each of these segments brilliantly connects to the bigger picture. Scout and Jem grow throughout the film in age and maturity as much of their childlike perspectives and ideas are drastically changed. This is especially notable with how they view their father. As Atticus's case goes on they see a side of him that had never seen before, which lets them see what kind of man he really is, and how lucky they are to have him. Another major plot point of the film is Scout and Jem's fascination with their neighbor Boo Radley, a reclusive and mysterious figure in town. This may look like it has nothing to do with the main crux of the story, but the way it ends up connecting to the final act of the film is just powerful.

The performances brilliantly translate these messages from book to screen. There aren't many things I can say about Gregory Peck's performance that hasn't been said already, but to be blunt, he is amazing in this role. Peck isn't doing anything bombastic here, it's instead very understated which works really well. The way he interacts with his kids is especially beautiful as he tries to teach them various lessons and truths about the world and some of its ugly points. Atticus at no point dumbs it down for their young minds but puts it in ways they can understand. As great as Peck is, however, the child performances from Mary Badham and Phillip Alford as Scout and Jem are just as good. Badham in particular stands out as being the character with the most significant arc in the film. Scout's childlike naivety and her growth away from that as she gets older is the most profound aspect of the film. My favorite scene in the film is when Atticus is confronted by a lynch mob and Scout and Jem come to his aid. Scout then recognizes one of the men in the mob as Mr. Cunningham, a poor farmer who Atticus once helped, which leads to the mob dispersing in peace. It's such a perfect scene that leaves an impact every time I see it. Another stand-out in the film doesn't come till the end, and that's Robert Duvall's big-screen debut as the infamous Boo Radley. Duvall doesn't have a line in the film, but his mannerism and facial expressions do more for the character than words ever could.

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the most moving films you will ever see. Its story and characters make for a timeless classic that still speaks to people today.