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    Home»Movies»Movies by Decade»Movies - 1990s
    Movies - 1990s Movies - P 2 Mins Read

    Pelican Brief, The (1994)

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    When this was made, John Grisham’s stock in Hollywood was so high that one of his shopping lists could probably have spawned a blockbuster movie.

    If it had done, it would undoubtedly have followed the formula consolidated by this, the second of the big-screen Grisham dramatisations: dense plotting, lots of legalese, two charismatic leads and a cavalcade of stars in small roles.

    pelicanbrief3

    Here, Julia Roberts plays aspiring young legal eagle Darby Shaw, who stumbles across a massive conspiracy that reaches right to the Oval Office; her only ally is Denzel Washington’s sceptical reporter Gray Grantham (pictured at right), who finds himself investigating the scoop of a lifetime.

    The two leads are fine, but the real coup is the depth of talent in the supporting cast – Sam Shepard and John Heard are among those delivering killer cameos, but everyone is eclipsed by Robert Culp’s witty portrayal of a shifty president.

    The plot combines legal thriller with conspiracy movie, so it’s no surprise that the film’s director is Alan J Pakula – whose previous work includes Presumed Innocent and The Parallax View – who weaves his way adeptly through the myriad characters and subplots.

    Darby Shaw
    Julia Roberts
    Gray Grantham
    Denzel Washington
    Thomas Callahan
    Sam Shepard
    Gavin Verheek
    John Heard
    Fletcher Coal
    Tony Goldwyn
    Denton Voyles
    James B Sikking
    Bob Gminski
    William Atherton
    President
    Robert Culp
    Khamel
    Stanley Tucci
    Justice Rosenberg
    Hume Cronyn
    Smith Keen
    John Lithgow
    Marty Velmano
    Anthony Heald
    Stump
    Nicholas Woodeson
    Edwin Sneller
    Stanley Anderson
    Matthew Barr
    John Finn
    Alice Stark
    Cynthia Nixon
    Charles Morgan/Garcia
    Jake Weber
    Eric East
    Casey Biggs
    Rupert
    Christopher Murray
    Sarge
    Sonny Jim Gaines

    Director
    Alan J Pakula

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