The Firm (1993) Movie Info
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie Name | The Firm (1993) |
| Director | Sydney Pollack |
| Screenplay Writer | David Rabe, Robert Towne, David Rayfiel |
| Based on Novel by | John Grisham (The Firm) |
| Lead Actors | Tom Cruise, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Gene Hackman |
| Cast | Tom Cruise, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Gene Hackman, Ed Harris, Holly Hunter, Hal Holbrook, David Strathairn, Gary Busey |
| Genre | Legal Thriller, Drama |
| Release Date | June 30, 1993 (United States) |
| Duration | 2h 34m (154 minutes) |
| Budget | ~$42 million |
| Language | English |
| Country | United States |
| Box Office (Worldwide) | ~$270.2 million |
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Summary
A long law school grad gains employment with a small Memphis law firm, unaware of its mafia conections until he is right in the middle of it. He must choose whether to help the FBI or the firm, both of which could mean disaster.
Review
Easily the best John Grisham legal thriller adapted to the big screen, although that doesn’t say a whole lot. The author’s works usually make for mediocre films, but with an intriguing story and a great cast, The Firm is decidedly decent. Mitch McDeere (Cruise) is a Harvard grad seduced by a Memphis law firm after it offers him a huge salary and other incentives.
After he and wife Abby (Tripplehorn) move there, he begins to grow suspicious of the organization’s bad side. You know, partners being killed when they try to leave the firm and what have you. Soon, Mitch is approached by the FBI, which informs him of the firm’s sinister connections. Either Mitch helps the feds bring down the mafia kingpins it’s fronting, or he goes down with the ship. It’s decision time.
Twists, turns and action follow as Mitch struggles to play both sides and survive a dangerous game in which his life is on the line. The plot is outlined fairly well, but what makes the film better than average are the characters. Seedy ex-con private investigator Eddie (Busey) and his secretary Tammy (Hunter), who aids Mitch in his efforts after Eddie is killed by the firm’s goons, steal the show.
Gene Hackman delivers a good performance as a washed up senior member of the institution, and Ed Harris is great as the irritable FBI agent in hot pursuit. On these merits, The Firm gets a solid three beers. However, we’ll throw in an extra half beer for one of the climactic scenes, in which Cruise beats the firm “security” henchman, played by Wilford Brimley, to a pulp with his briefcase. Even a good thriller needs some unintentional comedy now and then.
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