6.6
Summary
A law student's theory about the recent deaths of two Supreme Court justices embroils her in a far-reaching web of murder, corruption, and greed.
Cast
Julia Roberts
Darby Shaw
Denzel Washington
Gray Grantham
Sam Shepard
Thomas Callahan
John Heard
Gavin Vereek
Tony Goldwyn
Fletcher Cole
James B. Sikking
FBI Director Denton Voyles
William Atherton
Bob Gminski
Robert Culp
The President
Stanley Tucci
Khamel
Hume Cronyn
Justice Rosenberg
John Lithgow
Smith Keen
Anthony Heald
Marty Velmano
Nicholas Woodeson
Stump
Stanley Anderson
Edwin Sneller
John Finn
Matthew Barr
Cynthia Nixon
Alice Stark
Jake Weber
Curtis Morgan / Garcia
Casey Biggs
Eric East
Christopher Murray
Rupert
Sonny Jim Gaines
Sarge
Kevin Geer
K.O. Lewis
Joe Chrest
Song and Dance Man from Bar
Richard Bauer
Managing Editor
Ralph Cosham
Justice Jensen
Tom Quinn
Sara Ann Morgan's Father
Michelle O'Neill
Sara Ann Morgan
Edwin Newman
Self
Helen Carey
Federal Clerk
Howard Shalwitz
Washington Herald Journalist
Carol Sutton
New Orleans Policewoman
Magee Hickey
Self
Ellie K. Wang
Reporter at National Cathedral
Franchelle Stewart Dorn
University Registrar
Karen Bralove
University Placement Clerk
Teagle F. Bougere
Male University Student
Carey Varner
Female University Student
Sandra Quarterman
Laura Kass
Cynthia Hood
Parklane Receptionist
Beverly Brigham
Safe Deposit Teller
Doug Coleman
Male Pursuer with Gun
Eliza Coleman
Female Pursuer with Gun
Carrie Boren
Reporter
Amber Nelson
Teen Bicyclist
Kelly Lynn Richards
Protester
Greta Valenti
Kid at Parade
Jerry Van Dyke
Assistant Coach Luther Horatio Van Dam in Coach (archive footage)
Harold Surratt
Parklane Security Officer
Shanna Connell
Tulane Law Student
Michael Port
Tulane Law Student
Gene Babb
Reporter
Kyle Duvall
Reporter
Karl Warren
Reporter
James Earl Reed
Reporter
Kyle Prue
News Desk Reporter
Jurian Hughes
White & Blazevich Receptionist
Peter Carlin
Edward Linney
Terrence Currier
Rosenberg's Nurse
Jewell Robinson
Senior Washington Herald Editor
Kim Peter Kovac
Senior Washington Herald Editor
Norman Aronovic
Senior Washington Herald Editor
Carl Palmer
Cop in Cowboy Boots
Scott M. Jefferson
Lt. Olsen
Danny Kamin
Hooten
Mark McLaughlin
CIA Agent in Hotel Room
Robert Pavlovich
CIA Agent in Hotel Room
Constance Yelverton
Clerk at Sheraton Hotel
Kim Kettle
Gavin Verheek's Wife
Alan Wade
Parklane Administrator
Paul Morella
White & Blazevich Attorney
Ed Johnson
White & Blazevich Security Guard
Dick Stilwell
White & Blazevich Security
Deborah Ben-Eliezer
Marie Halliburton - Protester
Catherine Boyd
Protester
Keith Fluker
Agent
Marianne Hettinger
Eyewitness
Joe James
Runner (voice)
Shane LeCocq
Mardi Gras Party Patron
Kimberley Roper
French Quarter Prostitute
Codie Scott
Man Partying in Quarter
William Shipman
Office Worker
Avo Shirazee
Teen Bicyclist
John A. Taylor
Law School Administrator
Jerry Van Dyke
Assistant Coach Luther Horatio Van Dam (archive footage)
Crew
Director, Screenplay
Alan J. Pakula
Novel
John Grisham
Reviews
Wuchak
May 25, 2018
6
Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington team-up in this crime thriller
RELEASED IN 1993 and directed by Alan J. Pakula from John Grisham’s novel, "The Pelican Brief” is a political drama/thriller about a law student (Julia Roberts) who researches the murders of two supreme court justices and shares her theory with her college professor (Sam Shepard) who, in turn, gives it to an FBI friend on a lark. The brief hits a nerve because people start dying one-by-one. Denzel Washington plays a DC reporter who teams-up with the student while Robert Culp appears as the president.
While I prefer “The Firm” (1993), which was also written by Grisham, this one is along the same lines, albeit with a totally different story (naturally). “Pelican” has more action, but the plot/characters aren’t quite as interesting IMHO. Still, if you liked one, you’ll probably appreciate the other.
THE MOVIE RUNS 2 hours, 21 minutes and was shot in New Orleans and Washington DC/Maryland. ADDITIONAL CAST: John Heard plays an FBI agent, Stanley Tucci a hitman and John Lithgow an editor.
GRADE: B/B-
Media
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$45,000,000.00
Revenue:
$195,268,056.00
