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The Firm (1993)

Let's discuss the legal thriller The Firm. Fresh out of Harvard Law, Mitch McDeere relocates to Memphis to work for a prestigious firm, only to slowly realize they are not as all as they appear.

Directed by Sydney Pollack

Based on the best selling novel by John Grisham

Adapted for the screen by David Rabe, Robert Towne, and David Rayfiel

Music by David Grusin

Starring Tom Cruise, Gene Hackman, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Ed Harris, Holly Hunter, Gary Busey, Wilford Brimley, David Strathairn, Terry Kinney, Steven Hill, Paul Sorvino, Barbara Garrick, Jerry Hardin, Margo Martindale, Tobin Bell, Dean Norris, and HAL HOLBROOK

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by Anonymousreply 42January 8, 2023 5:52 PM

I love both the book and the movie! Fun thrillers

by Anonymousreply 1January 8, 2023 1:19 AM

Great score by Dave Grusin

by Anonymousreply 2January 8, 2023 1:49 AM

Gene Hackman looks at Jean T with more believable lust than Tom can muster.

by Anonymousreply 3January 8, 2023 1:50 AM

Tom's almost old enough to star in the proposed sequel, "The Infirm."

by Anonymousreply 4January 8, 2023 1:54 AM

R3 he comes across as a dirty old man

by Anonymousreply 5January 8, 2023 2:00 AM

This is one of those movies that if it is on TV while I am flipping thru the channels, I always stop and watch it. It is fun and suspenseful but also has moments where it is goofy, like the fact that diabetic Wilford Brimley is the Firm’s muscle.

Holly Hunter and Hal Holbrook in random supporting roles are fun to see too

by Anonymousreply 6January 8, 2023 2:12 AM

Did Holly really deserve an Oscar nomination for this?

by Anonymousreply 7January 8, 2023 2:13 AM

It's a delightfully re-watchable film, with great performances, production design, and especially music. And the novel is even better, with a bolder ending that's completely different from the film's boy scout treatment.

Holly Hunter is a treat as Tammy, the trucker's wife who saves the whole scheme with nary a thanks. But the movie is stolen by Hackman's Tolar, who fits in perfectly as the rogue-with-a-heart. His interactions with Jeanne Tripplehorn are the best in the film, and they have stronger chemistry than the actress had with her onscreen husband.

by Anonymousreply 8January 8, 2023 2:19 AM

I think Wilford Brimley is perfect as the head of security. He is nasty and rough and a son of a bitch.

by Anonymousreply 9January 8, 2023 2:20 AM

R9 Exactly. Devasher in the novel is more of an outright villain, and a sexual deviant as well. But Brimley's version of him adds just a little bit of softness. He's ruthless, but he's also the sweet old man from Quaker Oats and Cocoon.

by Anonymousreply 10January 8, 2023 2:22 AM

Mr. Diabeetus scared the shit out of me in this movie

by Anonymousreply 11January 8, 2023 2:23 AM

Inspired a memorable Mr Show sketch.

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by Anonymousreply 12January 8, 2023 2:23 AM

I don't know why, but I do not enjoy reading Grisham's novels. I want to like them, but I just don't.

Movies based on his books, however, tend to be really fun to watch and, as R8 says, rewatch.

The Client, The Rainmaker, The Pelican Brief, The Firm, Runaway Jury, A Time to Kill – all of them eminently rewatchable.

by Anonymousreply 13January 8, 2023 2:24 AM

How would you like to be under the desk giving a BJ and then he gets shot? Holly Hunter was great in that and I loved that she sailed off with Ray.

by Anonymousreply 14January 8, 2023 2:28 AM

R13 did you try The Firm, A Time to Kill, or The Pelican Brief? Those are his three best.

by Anonymousreply 15January 8, 2023 2:30 AM

Terrific flick. Pollack is a gifted director

by Anonymousreply 16January 8, 2023 2:32 AM

Tom and Jeanne’s house in the film is on Tuckahoe Lane, one of the prettiest little streets in East Memphis.

by Anonymousreply 17January 8, 2023 2:47 AM

Jeanne got some good parts when she was with Ben Stiller then she faded out

by Anonymousreply 18January 8, 2023 2:52 AM

Tom as a lawyer is as believable as Marky Mark as an astronaut.

by Anonymousreply 19January 8, 2023 2:53 AM

I always liked Hal Holbrook in this. I think he is such an underrated actor.

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by Anonymousreply 20January 8, 2023 2:58 AM

R19, he was about as convincing as Esther Williams on horseback!

by Anonymousreply 21January 8, 2023 3:40 AM

Tammy Cruise has never looked capable of working a doorknob, much less getting through the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution.

by Anonymousreply 22January 8, 2023 3:43 AM

I confuse this one with the one where the law firm is run by Satan.

by Anonymousreply 23January 8, 2023 3:43 AM

No, Holly Hunter did not deserve a nomination for this. But I can't get too upset about it considering how much I love her in other movies. My favorite moment in the movie is David Strathairn's scene with Holly Hunter at the end.

by Anonymousreply 24January 8, 2023 3:52 AM

R23 That's The Devil's Advocate

by Anonymousreply 25January 8, 2023 3:57 AM

I liked Jeanne Tripplehorn in this. She is underrated

by Anonymousreply 26January 8, 2023 4:51 AM

How did they always manage to make Cruise look statuesque? Someone reported that he's about 5' 7" with a triangular shape (wide hips).

by Anonymousreply 27January 8, 2023 5:12 AM

He stood on a box.

by Anonymousreply 28January 8, 2023 5:13 AM

I enjoyed it at the time but I can't watch Tom Cruise in anything now. All of you know why.

by Anonymousreply 29January 8, 2023 5:53 AM

Hollywood has always been clever is hiding actors who were short. Alan Ladd is a good example. Mostly cast opposite taller leading ladies he had to either stand on a box or they in a ditch so that it appeared he was taller.

by Anonymousreply 30January 8, 2023 6:03 AM

Love this movie.

by Anonymousreply 31January 8, 2023 8:03 AM

[quote]Hollywood has always been clever is hiding actors who were short.

How about when they were insane R30?

by Anonymousreply 32January 8, 2023 8:28 AM

A great thriller and Hackman is a legend .

by Anonymousreply 33January 8, 2023 10:49 AM

Hackman MAKES the movie. Although it’s perfectly calibrated and perfectly cast - even Margo Martindale as Cruise’s secretary!

by Anonymousreply 34January 8, 2023 11:23 AM

The movie was good even though I loathe Tom Cruise. But as a fan of the book, I warned other book fans that although it had the same characters, the story in the film was very different.

by Anonymousreply 35January 8, 2023 11:47 AM

Sydney Pollack said there would always be a part in his films for Allyn Ann McLerie but she is not in this.

by Anonymousreply 36January 8, 2023 1:50 PM

Wilfred Brimley has always annoyed me so I find it very satisfying when Tom Cruise kicks the shit out of him near the end

by Anonymousreply 37January 8, 2023 5:18 PM

Always enjoyed it. Good script, good pace, some genuine suspense, good cast. Tripplehorn in another movie where she's not the focal point but plays a big role - like Basic Instinct.

by Anonymousreply 38January 8, 2023 5:22 PM

So many memorable scenes - Terry Kinney sitting in his backyard with the sprinkler hitting his leg over and over when he realizes the co workers were murdered on their business trip.

by Anonymousreply 39January 8, 2023 5:25 PM

"Gene Hackman looks at Jean T with more believable lust than Tom can muster."

There's never a scene where there needs to be lust.

by Anonymousreply 40January 8, 2023 5:34 PM

Wasn't The Firm based on The Rose Law Firm in Little Rock, AR.

by Anonymousreply 41January 8, 2023 5:36 PM

It wasn't a problem with diminutive Constance Frances Marie Ockelman, r30. They made seven films together, including three films in which they appeared as themselves (Star Spangled Rhythm, Duffy’s Tavern and Variety Girl).

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by Anonymousreply 42January 8, 2023 5:52 PM
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