Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Alan J. Pakula, Warner Bros, PG 161 Minutes.
One of the best political crime dramas to have been produced in the early nineties is from the director of ‘Presumed Innocent’ the late Alan J Pakula based on the gripping 1992 novel by the distinguished author John Grisham.
The story starts with the murder of two Supreme Court Justices followed by a brief provided by law student Darby Shaw (Julia Roberts – ‘Pretty Woman’) on the conspiracy behind their deaths which falls in the laps of certain government officials.
One of these turns out to be the cold-hearted Fletcher Coal (Tony Goldwyn – ‘Ghost’) chief political adviser to the US President (Robert Culp – ‘Most Wanted’) concerned that its contents may culminate in ruining the President’s re-election chances.
To avoid this happening the car of Darby’s college professor (and lover)-to whom she first gave her brief-is then blown-up prompting her to go into seclusion fearing she may be next upon finding her place has been burgled.
It is only when her FBI friend Gavin (John Heard – ‘Snake Eyes’) has been found dead that Darby seeks help from investigative reporter Gray Grantham (Denzel Washington – ‘Fallen’) presenting him with the pieces of the puzzle-leading to the President.
Believing both their lives are now in danger Gray and Darby are in a race against time to get the evidence needed to enable the conspiracy to be made public despite certain doubts from the newspaper editor (John Lithgow – ‘Cliffhanger’).
With the resignation of the President’s chief adviser and the headline story finally appearing in the Washington paper FBI director (James Sikking – ‘Narrow Margin’) has also arranged for Darby to depart the country leaving unanswered questions as to her whereabouts.
To his credit Pakula has seamlessly adapted Grisham’s novel to the big screen transforming the riveting storyline into a highly entertaining production infused with many exciting scenes in addition to some thrilling twists and turns.
Besides including stars who have commenced their careers at this time namely Hume Cronyn as Justice Rosenberg, Culp, Goldwyn, Heard, Lithgow and Stanley Tucci as Khamel there are the enjoyable performances of Roberts and Washington-especially the chemistry between them.
Although Pakula’s political thriller was made in 1993 it appears to have a theme similar to that memorable movie ‘All the President’s Men’ released in 1976.
The Pelican Brief is televised on Channel 7 flix at 9.10pm on Saturday 10 October
Vic’s Verdict: 4 Stars
