THE CLIENT
US, 1994, 119 minutes, Colour.
Susan Sarandon, Tommy Lee Jones, Mary Louise- Parker, Anthony La Paglia, J.T. Walsh, Anthony Edwards, Brad Renfro, Will Patton, Bradley Whitford, Anthony Heald, Kim Coates, William H. Macy, Ossie Davis.
Directed by Joel Schumacher.
The Client is one of the best adaptations of a John Grisham novel. It was co-written by Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind). It was directed by Joel Schumacher who made the other Grisham adaptation, A Time to Kill. Schumacher had a long tradition as a writer and director with such films as Flatliners, Falling Down, the two Batman films, The Phantom of the Opera.
Susan Sarandon received an Oscar nomination for her role as former alcoholic lawyer, Reggie Love. She supports the young boy, played by Brad Renfro in his first film, who witnesses a suicide but who has information that the Mob wants. He and his brother and his mother (Mary-Louise Parker) are threatened by the Mob. Anthony LaPaglia? is the Mob killer. Tommy Lee Jones is the investigating officer – trying to get himself a platform to be elected governor of Louisiana. There are some good sparring scenes between Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones. However, Brad Renfro (Bully, Apt Pupil) is very good as the young lead. Stalwarts like Will Patton, Bradley Whitford, William H. Macy, J.T. Walsh and Ossie Davis round out a very strong cast.
Other adaptations of Grisham novels include The Firm, The Pelican Brief, The Chamber, The Gingerbread Man, The Rainmaker.
1.The work of John Grisham? Popularity and success? The law, legal cases, corruption, politics? The ingredients for interesting drama?
2.The New Orleans and Memphis settings? The cities, the woods? The courts, the prisons? The mansions? The musical score?
3.The title, Mark and his relationship to Reggie?
4.The introduction to Mark and Ricky, their harassed mother, the situation with the ex-father, his alcoholism and beatings (and the later explanations)? The children at play, smoking, Romey and the car, the hosepipe, the gas? Mark pulling the pipe, Ricky’s reactions, Mark being caught, in the car, the gas? The talk with Romey about Barry, the burying of the body? The issue of the gun? Ricky and his approach, Mark getting out, their hiding? Romey and his shooting himself? Mark ringing 911?
5.Sergeant Hardy, discussions with Mark, his suspicions, Mark’s lies, Mark knowing Romey’s popular name? At home, Ricky and his trauma, thumb in his mouth, his mother worried? Going to the hospital, for the indigent? Doctor Greenway and his explanations, treatment? Diane Sway and her reaction?
6.Mark and his continued lying, his fear? The approach of the FBI personnel? Roy Foltrigg? The sergeant? The discussions, his finding the fly in the hospital, going to the office, asking for Reggie, his reaction to her being a woman, the talk, his explanations, giving her the dollar? Her giving him the tape for the discussion with the FBI, their later denials of what they said, her producing the tape? His greater reliance on Reggie?
7.Mark and his age, poise, caring for his mother, his brother? His hatred of his father, the divorce and the judge’s decision? Lies and fear? At the hospital, the approach by Paul Gronke and threatening him in the elevator? The private eye pretending to be a distraught father, his later pursuing him, stalking outside Reggie’s house? Roy, his determination, wanting Mark to tell the truth? Talking about Reggie as a drunk? Mark firing her, his upset about her not telling him the truth? His leaving, escaping from the pursuing media in her car? At her house, the friendly mother? His coming in, telling the truth about her family to Mark, his telling the truth about his family? The background of her drinking, study, not having access to her children? The witness protection program? The preparation for the meeting with the judge, her urging him not to lie and be like the others?
8.Diane, her age, inexperience, the jobs and the turnover, her fears, her talking with Reggie – and then turning against her, her medication, worried, leaving the search to the FBI?
9.Roy Foltrigg and his entourage, their personalities, his wanting to be governor, quoting Scriptures? Determined, his mixing up the names for McThune? The questioning of Mark, Reggie and her reaction, the tape? Wanting further interrogations, Mark going to prison, the plans, the preparation for court, his performance in the court, the judge thwarting him?
10.Barry the Blade, swaggering style, his Uncle John looking down on him, the murder of the senator, hiding the body, his plans, the police filming him and his mocking them? The henchmen, Gronke and the others going to New Orleans? Hiring the private detective? Threatening Mark in the elevator, the later chase and Gronke being tricked into the freezer? Their going to the boathouse, The Blade and his going to the restaurant, the mess with the digging up of the body, the henchmen taking him away to execute him?
11.Susan Sarandon as Reggie, her back-story, the office, meeting Mark, talking, his insult, becoming his lawyer, the tape of Roy and the others? Roy’s insult about her life? Mark firing her, in the car, taking him to her home? Her telling her story to him, her relationship with her mother? Her assistant and his continued help? The interview with Roy, calling off the next one? With the judge, their past, the court preparation, urging Mark to tell the truth, to take the Fifth Amendment? Mark in prison? His escape, his phone call to her, driving, the plan, her urging friendship and the need to ask for help, in the motel, the phone call to her assistant?
12.The judge, friendship with Reggie, upholding the law, his court, putting down Roy and his entourage? His questioning of Mark? Putting him in jail for his own protection?
13.The discovery of the body, Reggie and Mark, Barry and his henchmen, the confrontation, the escape? Barry and his being shot, Reggie and the gun, Mark not firing, her shooting the alarm and alerting the police?
14.The deal for the family, the witness protection, Reggie’s demands, Roy accepting them, the timing?
15.The farewell, her giving Mark the compass, the embrace, Diane and her future? Roy preparing for his press conference?
16.The presentation of the law, lawyers (and Mark’s joke with them ordering the pizza on the credit card)? The police? Justice? Individuals and rights?
