Cast: John Cusack (Nicholas Easter), Gene Hackman (Rankin Fitch), Dustin Hoffman (Wendell Rohr), Rachel Weisz (Marlee)
For complete info, see IMDb's Runaway Jury page.
Definitely one of the best adaptations of a John Grisham novel! Runaway Jury, this story about the manipulation of a jury was exciting and entertaining the whole way through even though I had already read the book. My husband (who had not read the book) and I both fully enjoyed this movie. I recommend it to John Grisham fans (you'll be surprised at how well they did with this one) and non-Grisham fans alike. It's a wonderful thriller whether you know his work or not!
Of course, the cast is so amazing that I would have wanted to see this movie even if I didn't already enjoy the story. They do a great job with Grisham's characters. Definitely rent this if you missed it on the big screen!
Grade: B+
Labels: 2003, drama, Dustin Hoffman, John Cusack, John Grisham, movie, Rachel Weisz, thriller
Reviewed by Kat at the 4:45 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Matthew McConaughey (Jake Tyler Brigance), Sandra Bullock (Ellen Roark), Samuel L. Jackson (Carl Lee Hailey), Kevin Spacey (D.A. Rufus Buckley), Oliver Platt (Harry Rex Vonner)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's A Time to Kill page.
A Time to Kill is one of the very rare instances where I read the book first and like the movie better. It's probably because (for whatever reason) this John Grisham novel never really grabbed me like most of his novels do. The movie did grab me. I think the movie was very well done and put the viewer into a time in the south where racism was not only accepted, it was still encouraged by many. I can't even imagine what it would have been like to live around the KKK - especially in a situation like this. I think they did a great job of making the reality of this time very clear.
Grade: B+
Labels: 1996, crime, drama, John Grisham, Kevin Spacey, Matthew McConaughey, movie, Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bullock, thriller
Reviewed by Kat at the 4:20 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Susan Sarandon (Regina "Reggie" Love), Tommy Lee Jones ('Reverend' Roy Foltrigg), Mary-Louise Parker (Diane Sway), Anthony LaPaglia (Barry 'The Blade' Muldano)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's The Client page.
Having really enjoyed the first two films made based on John Grisham novels (The Firm & The Pelican Brief), I had high hopes for The Client. That was my first mistake. If you haven't read the book, I'd recommend The Client. If you have, I'd say you're better off re-reading it than you are renting the movie.
The book is wonderful and the cast is great, but the story got too mangled to recognize it as the book I enjoyed so much.
Grade: C+
Labels: 1994, crime, drama, John Grisham, movie, mystery, Susan Sarandon, thriller, Tommy Lee Jones
Reviewed by Kat at the 12:10 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Tom Cruise (Mitch McDeere), Jeanne Tripplehorn (Abby McDeere), Gene Hackman (Avery Tolar), Hal Holbrook (Oliver Lambert)
For complete cast, see IMDb's The Firm page.
I loved this movie! In fact, I became a John Grisham fan because of it. I'd never read one of his books, but after seeing The Firm and enjoying it so much, I read it. I think that The Firm is one of those very rare instances where the ending of the book is totally changed in the film, yet both versions are excellent. Even my friends who read the book first enjoyed the movie, which is always difficult when a book moves to the big screen.
I highly recommend this movie if you somehow missed it. The Firm is a wonderful legal thriller with an amazing cast!
Grade: A-
Labels: 1993, drama, John Grisham, movie, thriller, Tom Cruise
Reviewed by Kat at the 4:30 PM show | 0 screams