The Firm

Rating:
Summary: Implausible Ending and Overacting Ruin Grisham Novel
Review: "The Firm" stands out as a shining example of why one should read the novel before watching the movie made from it. I noted that some reviewers have criticized the music, which I always thought of as being out of place in this picture. The two biggest problems I have with the movie are Tom Cruise's ham-handed acting performance and an ending that strays from that in the novel and simply is too implausible. A previous customer reviewer commented that Cruise's character would have been killed by the mobsters, and I agree wholeheartedly with that assessment. If Cruise had been a little more restrained, and if the producers had followed Grisham's book more faithfully, I believe that it could have been a much better movie than the forgettable waste of time that it ended up being.

Rating:
Summary: Why Did They Change It?
Review: After reading John Grisham's book, which I simply couldn't put down, I was excited for the movie. But when I finally saw it, I was a disappointed. While for the most part, it was a decent film, there were a few things that bothered me too much to really say I liked the movie. First off, the music was terribly mismatched for the film. When Mitch is pursued near the end of the movie, it is suspenseful and appealing, but the rest of the movie is filled with music that doesn't really seem to go with the overall mood of the movie. I was constantly annoyed by this watching THE FIRM. While the casting for the most part is good, I think Jeanne Tripplehorn is badly miscast as the wife. When reading the book, I had a totally different picture of how Abby would act and Tripplehorn was nowhere near it. When I first saw Holly Hunter in her role, it was also totally different than how I pictured Tammy would look, but I gradually accepted Hunter in this role because she fitted herself into the character. This never seemed to happen with Abby. Tom Cruise was a good choice for Mitch, and most of the rest of the cast is also very good. Also, the colors in the film were always so bright. I would have thought the film should be darker, especially with scenes inside the firm, to create the right atmosphere. But the firm, supposedly our "bad guy" in the film, never even feels threatening! The audience doesn't feel the sense of paranoia the readers of the book did, that the firm was always watching and waiting, this dark entity just waiting to swallow Mitch inside it. But my biggest problem with film is the drastic changing of the ending of the book. The film is remarkably faithful to Grisham for awhile, before veering way off course from the book to a completely different ending. While this ending doesn't ruin the movie, it does change it so much that it seemed like it might as well have belonged to a different film. There wasn't anything wrong with Grisham's version; why change it? Instead of all of Mitch's satisfying twists and turns in the book, we get what might be a bigger twist with ultimately a lot less bite. Adding the action sequences with Mitch being pursued was a nice touch for the audience, to keep them entertained through the end of the movie. And while I did like the twist with Abby and Avery, the movie allows too much time to be spent on Mitch and Abby's relationship, which shouldn't be the primary concern. I looked the book's approach to this much, much better. The DVD's extras are also very skimpy. A commentary about why Pollack decided to change so much of the book would have been appreciated. This isn't a bad movie, but it is a lot less satisfying than the thrilling book it's based on.

Rating:
Summary: Typical Over-Rated Cruise film
Review: as usual Tom Cruise over acts.the only thing that saves this film is Paul Sourvino&Gene Hackman.John Grisham wrote a far better book.sadly you get the Hollywood version.all Gloss and not much Substance.

Rating:
Summary: Overlong, but never less than engrossing
Review: Cruise continues his graduation away from teenage girl type movies like "Top Gun" and "Cocktail" and puts in a superb performance in director Pollock's excellent , if overlong adaption of Grisham's book. Cruise plays a hot shot young lawyer who discovers that the wealthy Memphis Legal firm he works for represents a particularly sinister customer. He's given strong support from an all star cast, particularly from Tripplehorn and Hunter and a brilliant (as ever) Hackman. It goes on too long by at least 20 minutes, but is slick, engrossing and suspenceful, particular at the end. The softer ending that shys away from the tough stance of the book is slightly disappointing though.

Rating:
Summary: Great Movie, poor DVD
Review: Don't you hate it when they transfer a great movie to DVD in cheesy video quality? Right from the opening credits you can see the hairs, pops, and other artifacts we hoped would go away with DVD. I suggest two words to the DVD Producers - "DIGTALLY REMASTERED"

Rating:
Summary: Cruise's Oscar Worthy Performance
Review: First off, I did read the book and felt the movie's plot changes were for the worse. However, this movie on its own is an entertaining and generally good piece. What really stood out for me was Tom Cruise's performance. I have seen most of his films and I think this was by far his best showing. We all know that he can play the young, ambitious, somewhat naive type (see Top Gun, The Color of Money, A Few Good Men), which is what he basically does in the first quarter of the movie, but after he becomes suspicious of the firm and has to deal with the FBI and pulling off a way to extricate himself from this whole situation, his acting really starts to shine. The way he is able to convey fear, anxiety, confusion, etc. without much dialougue is truly remarkable. The scene in which he tells his wife that he went to see his brother in jail is a great example of what I'm talking about. I think it was a travesty that he wasn't even nominated for an Oscar for this film.

Rating:
Summary: not firm enough
Review: good points: gene hackman, some great cinematography, some fast-paced scenes, at points the female co-star cuts the mustard

the bad points (my revenge at having to sit through 2.5 long, annoying hours): tom cruise is often emotionally fake and shallow, the story isn't always logical (so don't watch it if you like to analyze stories too much), many of the characters and scenes were WOODEN!, overall mostly just junk food quality (and at times i got a hair in my burger!)

why i kept watching it: gives insight into our culture and its ideals - the immature grandiose fantasy of being the genius, brilliant, athletic hero who stumps everyone and is more clever than the FBI and the mob [= the child is more clever than the abusive parents = unreality!]

Rating:
Summary: Better than the original Book!
Review: Grisham is getting smarter in the film than the book. I love the film more than the book. The cast was great! I love it so much I bought the film. In the book, they becomes fugitive running from Panama City of Florida penhandle. The author must learned from someone to change the outcome of the story. It is much clever and pleasant. Well, you find it out in the film. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Firm but Just
Review: Having read all of John Grishams novels and especially loving " The Firm ", I was a bit dissapointed with the standard of the movie. Acting wise Tom cruise probably played one of his better roles as Mitch Mcdeere and Gene Hackman always up to his usual greatness helped me digest a movie, which defies the novel by taking on a different ending . The novel was beautifully written and vividly described and i could not put it down. The movie on the other hand lacked action,emotion and the wonderful ending John wrote for us. The movie wasnt as bad as the book " The Street lawyer " !!! but it wasnt as great as the movie " A time to kill " ! For all those movie viewers out there that have seen the movie but havent read the book I urge you to read it soon and i guarantee that you will love it !!!

Rating:
Summary: A Nail Biting, Sit Up In Your Seat Tale
Review: I absolutely love movies where the main character is in some impossible situation and has to be very clever in order to find an escape hatch. This is one of those movies. Cruise does a great job as a new lawyer who discovers his great job is anything but. Gene Hackman is good as an attorney who has resigned himself to selling his soul.