Rating: 
Summary: A Firmly Gripping Thriller !
Review: In this screen adaption of one of John Grisham's most thrilling legal novels, Tom Cruise plays a graduating Harvard law student that is recruited by many of the nation's top law firms. He ends up choosing a firm based in Memphis, where he takes his school-teacher wife and shaggy dog to a seemingly perfect life ahead of them both. The trouble begins when Cruise gets suspicious about a murder that has occurred to one of the firm's lawyers. The action then begins there where Crusie enters a world of glitz, money, and not to mention murder in this thrilling film. With the firm hot on his heels in pursuit to silence him, Cruise exposes the truth about the firm's dirty secrets that are sure to be a shocker.
Rating:
Summary: A Firmly Gripping Thriller !
Review: In this screen adaption of one of John Grisham's most thrilling legal novels, Tom Cruise plays a graduating Harvard law student that is recruited by many of the nation's top law firms. He ends up choosing a firm based in Memphis, where he takes his school-teacher wife and shaggy dog to a seemingly perfect life ahead of them both. The trouble begins when Cruise gets suspicious about a murder that has occurred to one of the firm's lawyers. The action then begins there where Crusie enters a world of glitz, money, and not to mention murder in this thrilling film. With the firm hot on his heels in pursuit to silence him, Cruise exposes the truth about the firm's dirty secrets that are sure to be a shocker.
Rating:
Summary: The Frim will blow you away - See the real power of it
Review: It was great, sure it differed from the book, but Cruise and Hackman took care of it and from great lines to a great revised plot the movie is a captivating exprience and is one of the best ever.
Rating: 
Summary: Boring
Review: It's too long and the movie lost its suspense point after the first half.And where is the climax? I'm just surprised why the fight returned result so fast.
Rating: 
Summary: Try to avoid contrasting the film with the book!!
Review: Like most people who had read the book and anxiously awaited the movie release I felt betrayed after going to the theater and viewing the film. As I left the theater I along with others who had read the book were complaining about how they (Hollywood) ruined a great suspense novel. However, the friend I had gone to see the film with seemed to have really enjoyed the film. I couldn't understand how, but then he had not read the book. A few months later I had the opportunity to view the film again at the cheap seats and to my surprise I found myself entertained. This time around I quit comparing the book and the movie and just watched and it wasn't have bad. After talking to others who have read the book and were initially disappointed with the film I have come to the following conclusion. While almost everyone who has read it believes that the book is a much better story than the movie, the movie isn't half bad if you can quit comparing every change. Of course you still notice the changes but don't spend as much time dwelling on the changes while watching the film. I hope that Hollywood makes Grisham's THE PARTNER into a movie, it is as good as if not better than THE FIRM. I also hope they stick to the original story this time.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Too Implausible
Review: Maybe its because I'm a lawyer and know what the "real world" is like (as opposed to the fantasy portrayed in this movie), maybe its because I'm not much of Tom Cruise fan (the only movies he's done that I can stand are Rainman and The Color of Money, and that's because of his co-stars in those films, not him), but for whatever reason I've got to rank this film as one of the worst I've ever seen. The ending of the movie (which is different from the ending in the book) is so totally implausible that it ruined whatever entertaining aspects the film possessed. Cruise's performance is even more woodeen here than in last summer's disasterous Eyes Wide Shut. And, except for Gene Hackman, the casting is completely misplaced --- I mean, really, Wilford Brimley as a Mafia enforcer ???? Gimme a break. If you're looking for a legal thriller, go get The Rainmaker instead, or watch an episode of The Practice.
Rating:
Summary: What a load of rubbish
Review: Oh please! what a pathetically long boring movie. Yes, I have read the *book* and Cruise, Trippelhorn, Hunter and Hackman are all flat as a pancake. The firm's lawyers look like George W with a Marx moustache. The firm itself doesn't even look menacing, and Tarrance looks like an egg. Ray McDeere looks impossibly sleazy, and what on earth happened to the Locke of Bendini, Lambert & Locke. And what a ridiculous ending - mail fraud. The whole point of this story is Mitch's conscience, as the newbie, his fresh law school ethics. Instead he helps the FBI indict BL&L for f***ing MAIL FRAUD. Good grief.
Rating:
Summary: Highly Entertaining--Great Acting
Review: Okay, so Tom Cruise gets a job at a Memphis law firm, right? We've all read the book or seen the movie, so how does one recommend this to one uninitiated? Cruise puts in a solid performance, again playing his guy-who-doesn't-catch-on-for-a-while character he does so well. Sydney Pollack is a great mainstream director, and he pushes all the buttons, as well as giving us a great cast including Gene Hackman, Holly Hunter, Ed Harris, Jeanne Tripplehorn, David Straithairn, Gary Busey, Hal Holbrook, and Wilford Brimley. Top-notch acting all around, with especially good turns by Brimley and Hunter, playing against type. Hackman is always good to watch and he does a terrific job of making Avery Tolar a likeable guy in spite of his faults. I suppose the most amazing job was done by David Straithairn, who, with less than ten minutes of screen time, paints an indelible portrait of Ray McDeere, Cruise's convict brother. He is the most likeable character in the film. The plot is the standard rising-above-conflict stuff. Watch this movie (again) for the performances, or for the fine score from Dave Grusin and try to ignore the changes from the book (which I think were justified in making the ending more cinematic and Hollywood).
Rating:
Summary: Awesome!
Review: One of the best movies I've seen. Had me on the edge of my seat. Well worth the time.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but drops at the end
Review: Reasonably good version of the John Grisham bestseller: Sharp, idealistic Mitch McDeere leaves Boston for Memphis and the firm of Bendini, Lambert and Locke, making a Faustian bargain in the process. Once he gradually discovers their evil doings, both the FBI and the Firm get very interested. Has a good sharp story and solid ensemble cast, but the ending, which differs from the novel, has some major plot holes. Still, a pretty good thriller.
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