I watched this film last night and was motivated to write a review of it as not many people know what it's about. ‘The Pelican Brief ‘is based on the book by John Grisham. It is a really well made film, which builds up tension so well and has you at the edge of your seat wondering what is going to happen next.
Julia Roberts plays a smart-arse law student Darby Shaw. She is in a relationship with her tutor Thomas Callahan. In the news they hear about two Supremes being killed. Darby decides to write a brief about who the suspects of the murders could be. She nearly throws it away as she’s not happy with it, however Callahan reads it and shows to a friend in the FBI (just as a laugh!). However Thomas is killed by a car bomb and Darby soon realises it was meant to kill her. This of course means her theory must be right and have some weight for such an extreme action to be taken. She turns to reporter, Gray Grantham (Denzyl Washington) for help. I won’t give away the rest of what happens as it will spoil the film for people who haven’t seen it.
The film is a good and does justice to Grisham’s novel. There is a doomed dull atmosphere in the film, and the soundtrack is great at building up tension. It raises important issues about law and order, power and the media. However the carbomb bit where Callahan dies looks a bit fake and amateurish. But apart from that it is a wellmade film.
I’m not the biggest Julia Roberts fan but I liked her in this film. She plays the role of Shaw well, although at times she’s overemotional. Washington is a brilliant actor and is perfect as Gray Grantham. If you’ve read the book you will see that the end is different and I was surprised that they made the change.
If you don’t like legal based films then this film is not for you. Also the film needs you to concentrate on what’s happening or you will get confused about what’s going on. Personally I liked the film, it is a welcome change from the usual films I watch.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: K.C. Bascombe - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Jesse James, Rachel Skarsten, Charles Powell, Linda Purl, Kevin Zegars
Never seen this one, not a huge Julia Roberts fan though, very helpful review
salem_witch 28.03.2006 17:33
I found this complicated. I had to watch it twice for it to make sense. My excuse was I was working loads at the time and I had only had a few hours sleep!
Trev15 13.08.2001 02:30
I caught this film the other night, too - and was pleasantly surprised. Very entertaining.
Another John Grisham legal thriller comes to the screen, pairing Denzel Washington and ... more
Julia Roberts in a film directed by Alan J Pakula, who is known for dark-hued suspense pictures such asKlute,The Parallax View,All the President's Men, andPresumed I...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Another John Grisham legal thriller comes to the screen, pairing Denzel Washington and ... more
Julia Roberts in a film directed by Alan J Pakula, who is known for dark-hued suspense pictures such asKlute,The Parallax View,All the President's Men, andPresumed I...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington headline and Allan J. Pakula (Presumed Innocent) ... more
directs this first-rate thriller based on the best-selling book by John Grisham. Two Supreme Court Justices have been murdered and a lone law student (Roberts) turns h...
Two Supreme Court Justices have been murdered and a lone law student (Julia Roberts) turns ... more
her suspicions about the deaths into a speculative brief that sends shock waves into the highest levels of government. She and a determined investigative report...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: very gripping and involving plot, great acting, strong cast and script, interesting interpretation of the book Disadvantages: heavy legal jargon and fast moving plot - can often get lost along the way
Advantages: very gripping and involving plot, great acting, strong cast and script, interesting interpretation of the book Disadvantages: heavy legal jargon and fast moving plot - can often get lost along the way
Advantages: Denzel Washington is his usual brilliant self. Thought provoking, and exciting, movie, about a highly contentious and controversial topic. Disadvantages: Not a lot
the_mad_cabbie 28.12.2002 (28.12.2002)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of John Q. (DVD)
Are you the manufacturer / provider of The Pelican Brief (DVD)? Click here
![The Pelican Brief [DVD] [1994]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78532398.jpg "The Pelican Brief [DVD] [1994]")
very helpful by (89%):
helpful by (11%):
