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Amazon.co.uk Review
Another John Grisham legal thriller comes to the screen, pairing Denzel Washington and Julia Roberts in a film directed by Alan J Pakula, who is known for dark-hued suspense pictures such as Klute, The Parallax View, All the President's Men, and Presumed Innocent. The Pelican Brief isn't up to the level of those films, but it is a perfectly entertaining movie about a law student (Roberts) whose life is endangered when she discovers evidence of a conspiracy behind the killings of two Supreme Court justices. She enlists the help of an investigative reporter (Washington) and the two become fugitives. The charisma and chemistry of the leads goes a long way toward compensating for the story's shortcomings, as does a truly impressive supporting cast that includes Sam Shepard, John Heard, James B Sikking, Tony Goldwyn, Stanley Tucci, Hume Cronyn, John Lithgow, William Atherton and Robert Culp. --Jim Emerson
Product Description
Julia Roberts, James B. Sikking, Tony Goldwyn, John Lithgow, Denzel WashingtonDirector: Alan J. Pakula
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I'm a big fan of John Grisham's books and the film adaptations of the books usually make for excellent viewing also. It's many a year though since I've read "The Pelican Brief" so when I sat down to watch the film I was unsure as to how confident I could be that the film was true to the book. It was surprising to find out after watching the film though, that the film rights were actually sold before the book was written, and Grisham himself wrote the part of Darby Shaw with Julia Roberts in mind, so you would image that the film should be a near perfect adaptation of the book.
The plot in many respects is extremely simple; two Supreme Court judges have been assassinated in what seems to be unrelated attacks. Legal student Darby Shaw with no other though than to investigate the deaths as a mental exercise in research, puts together a plausible explanation of why they judges have been killed, a theory which implicates both the White House and the FBI. Darby's partner Thomas Callahan (Sam Shepherd) shows the report to a friend in the FBI, who in turn shows it to the head of the FBI, who in turn shows it to the President. Unfortunately for Darby it would seem that her theory is somewhere too near to the truth for both the President and the FBI as a succession of various hit men and thugs are now trying to make Darby's brief and Darby herself disappear. Solace comes in the form of Washington Post journalist Gray Grantham (Denzil Washington) who comes to Darby's aid as they both try to uncover the truth and print the real version of events.
Amongst the various chases and thrills and spills it does become more than a little confusing as to who is chasing who and who is exactly on Darby's side. That's not to say though that the film is all explosions and shoot outs, indeed if anything what the film does play on very well in the isolation that Darby is forced into, as she must become anonymous so that the various government agencies cannot track her down.
Julia Roberts is excellent in this role as she shows real vulnerability as the scared and alone Darby. Very interesting is how the film makers change Darby's appearance throughout the film, in the early stages of her plight Darby is a wan and colourless waif, with scraped back hair and baggy clothes, as her characters begins the fight back and eventually partners up with Grantham her appearance changes into the shining red-haired beauty we know Robert's can be.
Denzil Washington is similarly very good in his role as the street wise Grantham, he eludes an aura of believability and confidence that would comfort the most frightened soul. He and Roberts play off each other extremely well and their chemistry is such that the romantic scenes that never come are almost conspicuous by their absence.
The final scenes as the dynamic duo bring the forces of evil to justice are thrilling and exciting and you almost feel like cheering when Grantham delivers the news of the story his paper is going to run in the morning to the various "baddies"
A great film of tension and drama and is well recommended.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington are simply outstanding in this film which draws you in scene by scene as your knowledge of what's going on increases and then is teased again by a further development. Perhaps frightening, because you could believe it could happen. I would have liked more of a romantic link between the two main characters, although its almost there, but perhaps I'm being a typical man wishing it were more obvious in the film - deeper woman may find the subtle appeal is enough already. Excellent film which I can't turn off once I've started it.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Based on John Grisham's best-selling novel previously reviewed
Darby Shaw (Julia Roberts) is a law student at Tulane who writes her own theory about who arranged for the assassination of two Supreme Court justices and why. The unfortunate thing is, her theory is right on the money, and once it starts circulating it results in a number of deaths. Investigative reporter Gray Grantham (Denzel Washington) turns out to be the one person she can trust and rely on.
"The Pelican Brief" is a solid and entertaining (if lengthy) political / newspaper / legal thriller from the director of "All The President's Men". It keeps its grip thanks to genuinely good film-making and an excellent cast. The climax is reasonably suspenseful.
To screenwriter / director Alan J. Pakula's credit, the villain of the movie - a stereotypically greedy and maniacal tycoon - is deliberately made mysterious and gets no actual screen time - except for an appearance in a key photograph.
Darby Shaw (Julia Roberts) is a law student at Tulane who writes her own theory about who arranged for the assassination of two Supreme Court justices and why. The unfortunate thing is, her theory is right on the money, and once it starts circulating it results in a number of deaths. Investigative reporter Gray Grantham (Denzel Washington) turns out to be the one person she can trust and rely on.
"The Pelican Brief" is a solid and entertaining (if lengthy) political / newspaper / legal thriller from the director of "All The President's Men". It keeps its grip thanks to genuinely good film-making and an excellent cast. The climax is reasonably suspenseful.
To screenwriter / director Alan J. Pakula's credit, the villain of the movie - a stereotypically greedy and maniacal tycoon - is deliberately made mysterious and gets no actual screen time - except for an appearance in a key photograph.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Quality of Merchandise
I purchased this DVD but did not watch it immediately, when I veiwed it there was a fault which bought up a menu asking me did I want to veiw scenes this occured at about half way... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Johna
Great classic
I really enjoyed the film when I first saw it years ago so I thought I's give it a go again. It's a good classic film with a good plot and very watchable.
Published 2 months ago by c1h8e0l
Awesome
I love this film. Denzel Washington and Julia Roberts are at the top of their form.I recomend this film to any who love suspense movies
Published 7 months ago by Mrs. L. J. Savage
Absorbing
SAFE READING - NO SPOILERS
Denzel Washington and Julia Roberts are two great actors who usually appear in high quality films; this is no exception. Read more
Denzel Washington and Julia Roberts are two great actors who usually appear in high quality films; this is no exception. Read more
Published 9 months ago by RR Waller
The Pelican Brief
Great film, always saw the start of the film, but never the end as it is a very long film. Love Julia Roberts such billiant actress and so underrated, and as for Denzil wow. Read more
Published 11 months ago by S. Jacques
Not sure about this film adaptation
Having loved the book I thought I'd give the film a shot. I ended up feeling a bit let down. Reading a previous review saying the film rights etc were sold before the book was... Read more
Published 12 months ago by GPM
the pelican brief
I purchased two and found both stopped at the same place in the film I tried them both on different dvds as the price of the dvds was low it would cost more to send them back and... Read more
Published 14 months ago by darby allen
Thriller
A first class thriller all round,as usual Denzel Washington is first rate and Julia Roberts is'nt bad either,definately one for the collection.
Published 16 months ago by Mrs. Brenda Burrows
pelican brief
the pelican brief is an awesome film its really interesting and julia roberts is amazing in this film but the two sided disk is not very clear so when you see how much is left on... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mr. S. Jennings
Watch out for running time..TURN over
Iwas so mad with myself for not allowing enough time to record this great film on my HDD recorder.I purchased the DVD......got to the same point in film and it cut off. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Pgbarber
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