Love the irony of Oliver Stone defending democracy by referencing monarchy while he assails the evils of a government with too much power... For inspirational jury summations, once you're past TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, the silver medal for me goes to David Mamet for his summation, delivered by Paul Newman, in THE VERDICT. For language, cadence, character revelation, and a true belief in the power not of a government or a king but of the human spirit, alive within ordinary people...this is as inspirational as it gets: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVZFlBJftgg

John, the "Mockingbird" summation is gold star no doubt with "Verdict" right up there, and I've featured both in Daily Dialogues. Actually one of my favorite moments in "Mockingbird" happens soon after the speech. When the verdict is handed down - "Guilty" and everybody clears out of the courtroom, except all the African-Americans up top and Scout. She looks down at her father, dispirited by the defeat, and the African-Americans all rise, Scout encouraged to as well: "Miss Jean Louise, stand up, your father’s passin’." A visual acknowledgement by the African-American community for the courage and effort Atticus had shown in defending Tom. Man, what a movie.

Amen!