Synopsis
A law student's theory about the recent deaths of two Supreme Court justices embroils her in a far-reaching web of murder, corruption, and greed.
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Cast
- Julia RobertsDarby Shaw
- Denzel WashingtonGray Grantham
- Sam ShepardThomas Callahan
- John HeardGavin Vereek
- Tony GoldwynFletcher Cole
- James B. SikkingFBI Director Denton Voyles
- William AthertonBob Gminski
- Robert CulpThe President
- Stanley TucciKhamel
- Hume CronynJustice Rosenberg
Recommendations
- 75
Chicago Sun-Times
By casting attractive stars in the leads, by finding the right visual look, by underlining the action with brooding, ominously sad music, a good director can create the illusion of meaning even when nothing's there. - 70
The New York Times
The story, neatly compressed, unfolds in dependable and photogenic ways. And it is coaxed along by Mr. Pakula's considerable skills as a brisk, methodical film maker. - 70
Empire
Much like Pakula's "Presumed Innocent", this is a solid and intelligent, if unspectacular adaptation, and just a tad tighter than The Firm to give it the edge that's needed. - 60
Chicago Reader
It's too bad that Pakula allows this 1993 movie to dawdle after its climax, but prior to that he's adept at suggesting unseen menace and keeping things in motion. - 50
Austin Chronicle
Unfortunately, The Pelican Brief comes across as a prolonged bout with deja vu: you know you've seen this before, and more than once at that. - 50
ReelViews
The final result is an unnecessarily-long thriller that contains far more talking than action. Pakula's direction is lackluster, showing little of the style that permeated his two most impressive pictures, "All the President's Men" and "Presumed Innocent". - 50
Los Angeles Times
So it is a surprise to say that the biggest mystery this legal thriller presents is how a film based on a novel by John Grisham, starring the bankable duo of [Julia Roberts Darby Shaw] and [Denzel Washington Gray Grantham] and written and directed by veteran Alan J. Pakula can end up more of a fizzle than an explosion. [17 Dec 1993 Pg. F1] - 50
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
Pakula's screenplay looks to bulldoze a clear path through the narrative thickets, but this stuff is impenetrable - meant to be complicated, it's just confusing.
