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The Firm

The Firm

List Price: $14.99
Your Price: $11.99
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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Con-Firm Your Plans
Review: The Firm, was the first John Grisham novel, adapted for the big screen. While I must confess, I never have read the book, I think the film is a solid "bubble gum" pot boiler that works very well.

Mitch McDeere, (Tom Cruise) is a young and hungry Harvard Law student, who turns down offers at the top law firms to take a position at a small but wealthy Memphis firm. Mitch grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. He is so taken with his mentor Avery Tolar, (Gene Hackman) his own ambition, and greed, he ignores his wife Abby's (Jeanne Tripplehorn) initial misgivings about the suspicious practices of his new employers. It's only when two of his fellow lawyers die in a mysterious accident that Mitch begins to share her apprehensions. He then launches an investigation into the true nature of the firm and discovers that it is a front for a complex and sinister web of organized crime, that goes to very top of the firm and even includes head Oliver Lambert (Hal Holbrook).

Directed by Sydney Pollack, the film benefits moreso from its all star cast, than it may have otherwise. Cruise proves that he can hold his own with Hackman for sure. Despite the fact that Cruise and Tripplehorn seem sparkless as a married couple, she too, is great in her scenes with Hackman. Pollack knows what works and keeps things at a brisk pace. His skills are evident as he juggles many different subplots that come together in the end nicely. One final comment on the film: Composer Dave Crusin's atypical music score adds just the right touch in setting the scene and giving the movie some flavor.

I don't know what it is about most of the John Grisham legal thrillers, but like most of them, the DVD of The Firm lacks any substantial extras. All you get here are two theatrical trailers--nothing more. A commentary track or a few deleted scenes would have put this product over the top.

The Firm doesn't have as much of a soapbox element as other Grisham stories do..that's ok. It's all for fun. No extras aside--Recommended

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: It was pathetic.
Review: The movie was the biggest waste of time. It was so far off the book and there was no suspense in it. The novel was a thriller and the movie was just long and boring.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The best Grisham adaptation
Review: The worst mistake by a movie reviewer can be the comparison between the movie and the book (in this case it is the bestseller book of John Grisham) where most movies fail so I rated this movie on its own terms and haven't made comparisons to the book. My first impression: this movie is a bit overlong and contains some filler minutes which could have been avoided. Apart from that it is a good watch with really good performances.

The cast is made up from excellent actors who all draw awesome pictures of their characters. Tom Cruise is a brilliant choice for Mitch, the young graduate lawyer who accepts the job offer of a little Memphis law firm which turns out to be a front of the mighty Mob. Cruise incorporates all the features of the young, willing yuppie who would sell his soul for $100.000 a year, a house and a beautiful car. Although when he realizes that the behind the facades his life (and the lives of all lawyers at the firm) is being ruthlessly and efficiently ruined he tries to escape. Gene Hackman is also a good choice for Mitch's senior partner, Avery who lost his illusions long ago. Ed Harris is the FBI officer whose task is to stir the calm waters at the Mob's law firm. His performance is a bit over the top (Harris seems to overplay all his roles), anyway it is acceptable. Wilford Brimley is the security man of the firm. He is cold, efficient and frightening and seems never to make a mistake. In fact, he's the one to put goose bumps on your back. The only weak link is Jeanne Tripplehorn, who throws in a pale, unlikely version of Mitch's wife. You simply can't believe her feelings because they're not played well. Last, but not least, kudos to Holly Hunter, who steals all the scenes she's in (unfortunately there are not too many scenes with her).

The director and the director of photography manage to create an atmosphere that sucks you in from the very first moment of the movie and doesn't let you go till the end. The movie makes a dark impression and even the shots taken in the Caribbean don't make you feel good. There is a sinister intention in every move and you can actually feel the growing tension. The Firm is a very well directed movie, indeed.

Unfortunately, the DVD itself doesn't offer much for the viewer. All we get are two trailers, but no documentary, no interviews and absolutely no extras. Even the compulsory director narrates the movie track wasn't added. You can choose between 2.0 surround or 5.1 digital, neither is outstanding. The lack of extras deserved the 1 star minus for the production.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Very Good
Review: The worst part of this movie was the casting of Tom Cruise's wife, the Nobody that played in Waterworld. She comes across as way too old for a brand new lawyer fresh out of school. Other than that, the movie had great suspense, a somewhat unbelievable ending, but good, clean entertainment.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Boring Legal Mush
Review: There is one thing you can't call Author John Grisham, and the word is "original." Book after book, made into a legal "thriller" that is supposed to entertain us. Some of his stories were good, like "The Client." But this movie is not as great. It is way too long (2 and a half hours) and tends to drag on at the end. The story has a conflict, but no substance because it seems that the conflict in this story is an empty threat that never evloves to anything. Even though the characters go through heated emotions, it is hard to relate or care about them. Not Reccomended.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good second half.
Review: This film was okay, once it got moving. The second half is more entertaining and suspenseful than the first half, which is pretty boring. Cruise and Hackman are good, as usual.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: poor beach scene
Review: This is a great movie but it is too bad they did not do a better job on the beach scene..the dvd quality is terrible and they should have looked before the release..my copy is going back and hopefully a new copy will be better.......visit the cayman island you will love it!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Read the book
Review: This is one of Tom's worst movies. The book was so much better. The movie did not even follow the novel and I was bored through out the movie. John Grisham's novel is better when read.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Suspense, binding, thrilling, descriptive!
Review: This is such an amazing masterpiece!!! Tom Crusie and Gene Hackman are at a rise when the movie hits it's peak...I loved and so will you!! With a fantastic cast, an incredible score, and a monsterous plot!!! This movie will blow you away!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Why is Tom Cruise so awesome?
Review: This movei was fantastic. Tom Cruise was so handsome in all those preppy little suits....


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