Review: The Pelican Brief

Conspiracy thriller in which supposed law student Julia Roberts figures out the title plot to assassinate Supreme Court judges, with a rich oil tycoon and even The White House somehow involved. Once word gets out about Roberts’ findings, people she’s shared the information with start getting bumped off. Denzel Washington (in a role originally written as white) plays an investigative reporter Roberts eventually turns to for help. Stanley Tucci plays an assassin, Sam Shepard plays Roberts’ law professor/lover, Robert Culp is the U.S. President, Tony Goldwyn is the President’s chief-of-staff, John Heard plays a government buddy of Shepard’s, John Lithgow plays Denzel’s boss, and Hume Cronyn plays a Supreme Court judge.

 

Slow-moving, uninvolving 1993 John Grisham (“The Client”) adaptation by writer-director Alan J. Pakula (“Klute”, “All the President’s Men”) where the best asset is a great score by James Horner (“Battle Beyond the Stars”, “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan”). It really is one of his best scores, quiet when need be, exciting and rousing at other required times. There’s zero mystery to the plot, meanwhile one of our main characters arrives far too late to the main plot. The other main character is unconvincingly played by Julia Roberts, which is funny because Grisham apparently wrote the part with her in mind. She’s not remotely right as a super smart young law student, I’m afraid. Roberts still had charm and movie star presence back then, but this is far from her best performance. Like her undeserved Oscar-winning turn in “Erin Brockovich”, she seems to be acting instead of genuinely disappearing into the role. There’s a difference. I suppose the same could be said for co-star Denzel, but his presence is a much better fit for the role and the overall material so it doesn’t prove a detriment. He’s always been smart like that, knows what works for him and generally sticks to it. The only issue with Denzel is the clunky and late introduction of his character into the film. Our two leads only speak – on the phone I might add – after about 50 minutes. The first hour barely has any Denzel at all. It’s a real problem.

 

The real stars here for me are supporting players like Stanley Tucci, Robert Culp, and especially John Heard. They’re all terrific. Tony Goldwyn on the other hand is directed and scripted in far too heavy-handed fashion. Part of the issue there is casting, however. It’s Tony Goldwyn, you know who and what he’s there to play. He’s a good actor but shouldn’t have been cast in the role.

 

Flat, slow, clunky and dull thriller that never really gets going and never really goes anywhere worthwhile. The score is great, and some of the supporting performances are good. That’s all, though.

 

Rating: C