Mockingbird Examined

If you worship "To Kill a Mockingbird" in either its book or movie form, don't read this:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703561604575283354059763326.html. Barra just repeats what O'Connor and others have said for a long time--that the book isn't what it's cracked up to be, but try telling that to middle and high school English teachers--they love LOVE it--I'm pretty sure my kids had to read it in at least two grades lest they not be properly indoctrinated in the righteousness that is Atticus Finch. I suppose it could have been a lot worse--they didn't have to tote "Das Kapital" home that I recollect.

I've always liked the movie not so much for the story--it is simplistic--but more for the fairly good portrayal of some things Southern that are steadily disappearing; accents, manners, and certain ways that crackers go about doing and saying things. The kids in the movie did a pretty good job with their accents (sometimes that can ruin a scene or movie--see the child actor who played July Johnson's rural Arkansas son in "Lonesome Dove" who spoke with a notable Northern accent). Also, the actress who played the white trash woman who accuses the noble Tom of rape was very effective in her role--I've known some people that reminded me of her. The movie also has Duvall as Boo Radley (I think it was his first film role). Never a bad thing.