Review №3

The Pelican Brief (1993)

Cast: 

Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, Sam Shepard, John Heard, William Atherton, John Lithgow, Stanley Tucci

Director:

 Alan J. Pakula

Synopsis:

 After two Supreme Court Justices are murdered, law student Darby Shaw, puts together a brief outlining her theory of who's behind the killings. Having done so, she finds herself in the mortal danger. Her only hope of escaping death and proving her theory lies in  Washington newspaper reporter Gray Grantham, whom she turns for help.

Review: 

     “The Pelican Brief” is based on the John Grisham novel of the same name, written for the screen, produced and directed by Alan J. Pakula in 1993.

     'The Pelican Brief" is a film about a young law student Darby Shaw’s theory (Julia Roberts) about the assassinations of two Supreme Court justices, and it just happens to be true. The paper reaches the president through a chain starting with her law professor (also her lover) and uncovers a conspiracy involving the chief executive Victor Mattiece. Thus, the government does anything and everything to kill her; including murdering everyone she comes in contact with. I think Julia Roberts’ performance is superb and realistic. She managed to put her heroine as a clever young woman with all her fears and doubts, who is able to succeed in difficult and dangerous situations, not doing things that leave a trail, like the usage of credit cards…

     Helping Darby is Gray Grantham (Denzel Washington), a Washington newspaper reporter who agrees to meet with her and becomes involved, because of the incredible attention and readership it would bring to him. I think Denzel Washington performance is also great. He gave a true example of a reporter, who fights for sensations, however sets the humanity and justice on the front plan. For example, having read Julia’s brief Denzel Washington decides that he must protect her from death (instead of writing a story about it, since he is a newspaper reporter). So, Denzel very believable performed a passionate journalist, known for his masterful investigations.

      However, there were some confusing and hard to follow elements in this film too, like a great number of characters.  While watching the movie, it was often difficult for me to tell who was who, because most of the actors were dressed absolutely alike and had a similar style. Moreover, though I don’t know why, their faces were undistinguishable for me too. I think it may be a minor flaw in either costume or casting that made me always guess who was a bad guy and who was a good one.

     Nevertheless, I like this movie, “The Pelican Brief” is very entertaining, suspenseful and goes through many ups and downs and twists and reveals to us the effects of a government conspiracy. The chief executive (also an oil tycoon) wants to drill for oil on the marshland which is a major habitat of an endangered species of pelican. In order to do so, he, the president and all their friends go on length to protect their image, even if that means murder. So, here we see an example that politics is a very dirty business, and many of those people who are involved into it want more and more (especially money) and will do everything to reach their aim (even destroy the environment and kill innocent people).  I’m very glad that in the end of the film the main heroes managed to show the real faces of these politicians, thus saving other people’s lives and protecting the environment (the endangered species of pelicans).

       All in all, in spite of several shortcomings, this film is superb and shifts from drama to action movie practically effortlessly. Though I suppose that "The Pelican Brief" is probably not to everyone's taste, but I personally like it; it shows the modern disregard for environmental matters, the real face of politics and the ways people use to reach their goals. It is very truthful, I believe. In addition, it would be also very interesting for me to read John Grisham’s novel on which this film is based, in order to find out all the details which any movie simply cannot convey…