9.22.2010

the pelican brief


the year: 1993

the genre: suspense


the cast: Denzel Washington (Gray Grantham); Julia Roberts (Darby Shaw); Sam Shepard (Thomas Callahan); Robert Culp (President); Stanley Tucci (Khamel); John Lithgow (Smith Keen); Hume Cronyn (Justice Rosenberg)


the plot: Two Supreme Court Justices have been assassinated. One law student has stumbled upon the truth. An investigative journalist wants her story. Everybody else wants her dead.



watch for: the very talented Stanley Tucci as Khamel. I *much* prefer him as Muerte/Morty in Undercover Blues (which, incidentally, came out the same year) but this definitely shows his versatility.



check out: the subtle reference to Jimmy Carter addressing the nation in a cardigan during the height of the fuel shortages in the 1970s.



did you know: John Grisham wrote the part of Darby Shaw with Julia Roberts in mind. Roberts read the book once it was finished and agreed to the role without even seeing a script.



listen for: "Any of those signs got my name on 'em?" "Quite a few." "What do they say?" "The usual: Death to Rosenberg, Retire Rosenberg, Cut off the oxygen." [laughs]"That's my favorite."


extra bonus points: if you know how many times Victor Mattiece, the main villain, appears in the film.



disclaimer: there are brief episodes of violence, but listen to the music and you'll be able to figure out when to close your eyes.

2 comments:

Laney said...

Ooh I watched this last week again. It's not as good as the book, but then most movies never are. Stanley Tucci is scary in this movie. I agree - much prefer Morty! ;)

Millie Motts said...

Answer: Mattiece never appears in the movie - he is only mentioned by other characters.