THE PELICAN BRIEF
US, 1994, 135 minutes, Colour.
Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, Sam Sheppard, John Heard, John Lithgow, Stanley Tucci, Cynthia Nixon, Toni Goldwyn, Robert Culp, James P. Sikking, Hume Cronyn.
Directed by Alan J. Pakula.
The Pelican Brief is an adaptation of a novel by John Grisham. During the mid-90s a number of films were made from his books beginning with The Firm and continuing with such stories as The Client, A Time to Kill, The Chamber. During the late 90s and into the 21st century a number of film versions continued to be made including The Runaway Jury.
This film has a political background, reaching to the White House. It also concerns itself about environmental issues, moneyed interests, multinationals, political finance and corruption. It highlights how conspiracies with moneyed interests lead to violence and murder and suppression of evidence.
Julia Roberts is strong and assured in the central role of the student lawyer – and anticipates something of her role as Erin Brockovich. Denzel Washington continues to give strong performances. There is a very strong supporting cast, especially Sam Sheppard as an alcoholic law professor, Robert Cult as the President of the United States.
Alan J. Pakula has always been interested in political conspiracies in his films, especially in the 1970s, with The Parallax View and All the President’s Men.
The Pelican Brief continues to be an interesting political thriller.
1. The work of John Grisham, his interest in the law, political issues, ecological issues? Conspiracies?
2. The New Orleans setting, the Washington settings? The details of the city, the countryside? Authentic and topical?
3. The strengths of the cast? The career of the director, his interest in politics? Conspiracies? Corruption? The atmospheric musical score?
4. The title, the image of the pelican, the opening credits, the information about the wetlands, the speculation in the brief, the quality of the research, understanding of the law, interventions, the role of the judges, moneyed interests, corruption, the effect? The involvement of the FBI, government? The company and its attempts at killing witnesses?
5. The introduction to the two judges, their personalities, Greg and his interview with the judge? His death? The judge in the pornography theatre, his being strangled? The portrait of the assassin, his preparation for his kills, the meticulous detail, disguises, the executions, returning to the hotel, keeping cool, ordering breakfast? His taped surveillance of Darby’s phone calls, walking with Darby in the street? His being assassinated by the FBI?
6. Unseen money, the head of the company and his not being a character in the film visually? The past, the oil rights, the environment and the threats, the pelicans? The lawyers, the crusaders against destroying the environment? The court cases, the role of the judges? The law firm employed by the company, the executive and his ruthlessness, the final interview on the phone with Greg, the exposure? The fact that the CEO had given so many millions to the presidential campaign? The consequences?
7. The portrait of the president, his style? His wanting popularity? Cole and his advice, control? The re-election issues? The interviews with the FBI chiefs, the CIA? The threats, the president asking for the investigation not to proceed? Pressures? The president’s public image, hospital, the press conferences? The cover-up and the final expose? For the president? For Cole?
8. The role of the law, law files, research, principles? The role of whistle blowers, the danger to their lives? The character of Garcia, his seeing the information, ringing Greg, Greg taking photos of him, identifying him? Darby going to the company, infiltrating, the discovery of his death? The visit to his wife and family, the wife relenting, the video and his farewell to his wife, the testimony to the corruption?
9. Tom as law professor, his lectures, a possible judge, his drinking? His relationship with his students, the relationship with Darby? His discussion with his friend in the FBI, giving him the brief? The explosion and the effect on Darby? The FBI friend, the phone calls, the talk, seeing him in his hotel, his death? Darby’s plan and its consequences?
10. Julia Roberts as Darby Shaw, in classes, smart, the affair with Tom, researching the information, writing the brief, giving it to Tom, the discussions with the FBI agent? The shock of the car’s exploding? The arrangement to meet the FBI agent, the assassin coming in his place, walking the streets, his being killed? Her plan to disappear, the discussions with her room-mate? The phone calls, contacting Greg? Their discussions, his scepticism, the meetings, giving the information, the detail of the background, their collaboration?
11. Greg, the reporter, friends with the judge, a man of integrity, a journalist with a nose for a story, his working with the paper? His visit to the judge, the discussions with his boss, the boss wanting evidence? His following the story, being contacted by Darby, checking the details? The research, their being in the library, the threats in the underground garage? Going to his hideaway, Darby and her arrival? Their researching the student in the hospital, keeping the manager talking, Darby getting the information? Going to visit the firm?
12. The dangers, the threats, the attempted assassination in the garage?
13. Greg, at home, his work, presenting Darby to his editor, getting the go-ahead?
14. The role of the brief, who knew about its existence, who read it, people using it for various political purposes?
15. The final exposure, the film showing the effect on the president, on Cole, on the head of the law firm? The TV interview, the comment that Greg had made up the character of Darby Shaw? Darby watching it, laughing? The flight, the bond between the two?
16. A satisfying thriller, plausible, the possibilities of such conspiracies? Contemporary American issues?
