THE FIRM
US, 1993, 154 minutes, Colour.
Tom Cruise, Gene Hackman, Hal Holbrook, Terry Kinney, Wilford Brimley, Ed Harris, Gary Busey, Jeanne Triplehorn, Holly Hunter, David Strathairn, Steven Hill.
Directed by Sidney Pollack.
The Firm is based on the bestseller by lawyer John Grisham. It was adapted for the screen by playwright David Hare, by David Rayfiel and screenwriter and director Robert Towne. Director of photography is Australian John Seale and the musical score was composed by Dave Grusin, a piano score which gives mood to the film. Direction is by veteran Sidney Pollack (Out of Africa).
The film highlights a central character who becomes a kind of American everyman. In the film, he is allowed to escape, both physically and morally, whereas in the novel his situation is more morally ambiguous. However, the film began as a screenplay and then turned into a novel.
The film is a star vehicle for Tom Cruise but has an excellent supporting cast, especially Gene Hackman as an ageing corrupt lawyer, Hal Holbrook as the sinister head of the firm, Wilford Brimley as its enforcer, Ed Harris as an FBI agent. There is also an excellent cameo by Gary Busey as a private investigator as well as by Holly Hunter as his assistant. David Strathairn appears effectively as Tom Cruise's brother. Jeanne Triplehorn (Basic Instinct) is Cruise's wife.
The film was made in Memphis, Tennessee, as well as the Cayman Islands, focuses on the Mob and its money laundering, a respectable firm of lawyers who have a deadly grip on their members.
For those who enjoyed the novel, the film may seem slight. For those unfamiliar with the novel, the film is an effective thriller.
1.Popular thriller? The background of law? The transfer of a bestseller to the screen, the adaptation and changes?
2.The picture of the United States: American stability, family and values, business - yet surface respectability and corruption beneath.
3.The Memphis locations, the South and its courtesy, politeness and respectability, the inner corruption? The Cayman Islands as a refuge for American money? Colour photography, the piano score, the range of songs?
4.The range of characters, the author's knowledge of the law and of the legal profession, raising of legal issues?
5.Mitch as the American ideal, poor young man, intelligent, bright and ready to fight? His denial of his poor background, his parents and his brother? His relationship with Abby, loving yet weak? Ideal yet pragmatic? His American Dream, becoming trapped in a nightmare? The law, violence and greed? The use of the law with ingenuity? having an idealist solution and pragmatic safety?
6.Tom Cruise and his style, the initial interviews with the firm and the good impression, Oliver making him guess his salary? His marriage to Abby, their plans, coming from Boston, the arrival in Memphis, their observations, the celebration? His lies about his family? Hopes, the house? The barbecue and the decision to settle in Memphis? The car, the benefits? His arriving early and noticing William Devasher? The firm and its personnel, the advice fro Lamar, the friendship with his wife? Avery Tolar and his genial approach, the bonds? Lunch and drinks? At work, the preparation for the exams, the amount of study? His arriving home late, tensions with Abby?
7.The portrait of Abby, a strong woman in herself, love for her husband, her work, hopes for children? Growing suspicions? The move, the house, the car, the barbecue, the absolute niceness of the firm, her exasperation? Mitch and his studies, not arriving home? A sense of alienation?
8.The picture of the firm, Oliver and his assistants, upright members of society, perfect gentlemen? William Devasher and his sinister being in the background? The discussion about the dead members of the firm and the accident? Chicago?
9.Cayman Island, Tolar and Mitch going, their clients, genial talk, the high life? Avery and his ideas? Survival with the firm? The rooms with the documents? Drinking, freedom from home and family, sexuality? Mitch and his resistance, rescuing the woman on the beach, the sexual encounter? His return and his being changed? The loss of innocence? The decision to visit Ray, the revelation about his brother? Their discussions? His coming home and Abby's suspicions?
10.Mitch's growing suspicions, the room and the files, the photos? The encounter with the FBI - the personnel, the talk in the diner? Opening his eyes to the truth? His options? Threats? His going to visit Ed, the discussions about private investigations? The meeting with Tammy?
11.The pressure from the FBI, their personalities, deals? Ray's release? The money, wanting copies? The photocopying and Tammy helping? The records for the FBI and Ray going free? Tammy and her help, her Elvis imitation husband?
12.Ed, his style, relationship with Tammy, the assassins and the shooting, Tammy hiding, her fear, the hotel, her offer to help?
13.Mitch caught up more in the web? The seminar in Washington, the approach by the FBI, meeting the FBI chief? The threat of indictment if the firm was investigated? The request to copy the files? His being shown the photo of his lovemaking by Devasher? His decision to tell Abby - her hurt, decision to leave him?
14.Mitch and Tolar going to the Caymans, Tammy and her help, disguise? Going to the file room and transferring all the documents? Avery and his call to Abby? The invitation for her to come to the Caymans? Her attraction, his attraction - memories of the funeral? Abby's decision to come to Cayman, tricking Avery, drugging him? Helping with the documents unbeknown to Mitch?
15.Avery's death? His seeing through his life at the end? His disappointment? Mitch and his discovery that Abigail was helping?
16.The information given to the firm and the Mob about Mitch? The FBI saving him? The return to Memphis, the pursuit on Mud Island? The assassin? The cable car? The pursuit? Devasher? Their killing each other? The Mob and the interview with Mitch, his explaining the plan about the documents and his safety?
17.The indictment of the firm because of mail fraud? Mitch and his safety? Self-protection? The happy ending?
18.The complexities of law, the criminal world, the world of investigation? The ambitious American innocent being caught in the webs? Destruction or ingenuity to escape?
