• Film

The Pelican Brief

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Time Out says

The assassination of two Supreme Court justices has bewildered the nation, but not coltish, flame-haired law student Darby Shaw (Roberts), whose unofficial conspiracy theory is shockingly vindicated by anonymous hitmen. Exit Darby's sozzled mentor Callahan (Shepard), enter crusading reporter Grantham (Washington). Writer/director Pakula's adaptation of John Grisham's potboiler is a classy but transparent reintroduction to Roberts' sympathetic spunky/vulnerable screen presence (and also, regrettably, to her limited range). Washington, on the other hand, breathes composure and self-assurance, despite finding himself fighting with his impatient news editor, clarifying the plot with a sketchy flow-diagram, and other clichés from the thriller-hack's manual. An old hand at this sort of thing, Pakula goes through the motions, but not much more.

Release Details

  • Duration:141 mins

Cast and crew

  • Director:Alan J Pakula
  • Screenwriter:Alan J Pakula
  • Cast:
    • Julia Roberts
    • Denzel Washington
    • Sam Shepard
    • John Heard
    • Tony Goldwyn
    • James B Sikking
    • Robert Culp
    • John Lithgow
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