tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post6232120355761127025..comments2023-08-20T06:16:15.362-05:00Comments on Getafilm: Underrated MOTM: The Firm (1993)Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-3979879353296869062009-04-05T23:27:00.000-05:002009-04-05T23:27:00.000-05:00Thanks for those thoughts, Alexander. It's interes...Thanks for those thoughts, Alexander. It's interesting, I never even thought about Grisham while watching Michael Clayton, probably because no one had a Southern accent. And the length, well Ebert makes a fine point, but I still apply it to the book as equally as the film, so if I accept the length in one then I'll accept it in the other.<BR/><BR/>Also bizarre that one of Sydney Pollack's final acting roles was in, of course, in Michael Clayton. Only now did that fact even occur to me.<BR/><BR/>I hope Cruise finds his groove alright, but with nothing on the horizon I don't see how he's going to cash in on the mini-comeback he had last year.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-41113744142799675782009-04-04T16:16:00.000-05:002009-04-04T16:16:00.000-05:00Interesting pick for Underrated Movie of the Month...Interesting pick for Underrated Movie of the Month, Daniel.<BR/><BR/>Too bad Rick stole my thunder as I was going to ask whether or not you actually liked <I>Michael Clayton</I> or not. :-)<BR/><BR/>I still like <I>Michael Clayton</I>, though, because it nearly transceded the legal thriller--especially in my eyes because I thought the trappings of a law firm were mere decoration next to the themes of the film, and too many critics who even liked <I>Clayton</I> called it "high-end John Grisham" in my humble opinion.<BR/><BR/>Nevertheless, I consider <I>The Firm</I> a fairly competent piece of work--Sydney Pollack's direction isn't as taut as his earlier work in the thriller genre, and the film <I>is</I> awfully long (and, I believe Roger Ebert was not incorrect when he labeled it "lugubrious"--rarely have I found a word fitting a film so comfortably), but the actors lend some credibility to the proceedings.<BR/><BR/>In Tom Cruise's defense, I actually think he was on a virtual tear there for a while, from about <I>Eyes Wide Shut</I> to <I>Magnolia</I> (and he was even fierce in John Woo's ode to Hitchcock's <I>Notorious</I>, <I>Mission: Impossible 2</I>) to <I>Vanilla Sky</I> to <I>Minority Report</I> to the fairly bloated and ultimately disappointing <I>The Last Samurai</I> (but he was okay) to <I>Collateral</I> to <I>War of the Worlds</I>.<BR/><BR/>Since then, though, his greatest work was in <I>Tropic Thunder</I>. I'm hoping he can find his groove again.<BR/><BR/>And I do love the scene with Holly Hunter and Gary Busey (who I just recently celebrated a tiny bit in a review of <I>Point Break</I> at Coleman's Corner). It feels like it's from a completely different movie--one that is wholly alive, and I love that about it.Coleman's Corner in Cinema...https://www.blogger.com/profile/04761319284479513957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-61255935294912705962009-04-04T12:30:00.000-05:002009-04-04T12:30:00.000-05:00Great story, Pat, and I hope you see it again soon...Great story, Pat, and I hope you see it again soon. How weird to have been in the midst of the story like that, and funny that you read Jurassic Park as it came out that summer as well. I gotta get me to Grand Cayman one of these days...Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-24501583148587574102009-04-03T10:13:00.000-05:002009-04-03T10:13:00.000-05:00Make that "popping up on one or the other of the E...Make that "popping up on one or the other of the Encore movie channels."<BR/><BR/>(Yes another misstyped comment!)Patricia Perryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15394997608325540950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-33183091935247914032009-04-03T10:12:00.000-05:002009-04-03T10:12:00.000-05:00Daniel -Thanks for sending me down Memory Lane wit...Daniel -<BR/><BR/>Thanks for sending me down Memory Lane with this post.<BR/><BR/>I was vacationing in Grand Cayman (where some of "The Firm" was filmed) on the day this was released in 1993. It was the talk of the island that week - it played at the one and only movie theatre on Garnd Cayman for most of the duration of our trip. I didn't see it till I got home, but I read the book (as well as "The Pelican Brief" and "Jurassic Park") while laying on the beach. <BR/><BR/> What I remember most about the film is that Holly Hunter was terrfic - the rest is kind of a blur. But I've seen this poppling on one or the other of Encore cable movie channels lately, so I'll think I'll check it out again.Patricia Perryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15394997608325540950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-30034511731815579732009-04-02T13:27:00.000-05:002009-04-02T13:27:00.000-05:00Gotta love creepy albino guy. Actually wasn't he o...Gotta love creepy albino guy. Actually wasn't he one of the cliched hoodlums in Michael Clayton as well? ;-P<BR/><BR/>It will be tough for me to watch Clayton again and listen to Wilkinson's diatribe or sit through the father/son stuff, but I realize I'm in the minority on this one. It <I>was</I> a Best Picture nominee after all, and I don't think I'd turn it off if I came across it. I'd probably just sit and fume.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-22699657815931201982009-04-01T23:54:00.000-05:002009-04-01T23:54:00.000-05:00Well, I'm definitely with you on The Firm - I find...Well, I'm definitely with you on The Firm - I find it to be an eminently rewatchable flick, and I'm probably all the better for having never read the entire book (I think I read the first couple chapters, but it was after I'd seen the film, and I find that to be a frustrating experience). In any case - I like that its set in Memphis, a town that doesn't get a ton of play in movies. I love the supporting characters - of course Hackman rules, but Wilford Brimley? Hal Holbrook? Creepy albino guy? Straithairn? It's got it all.<BR/><BR/>All that said...I couldn't be much further from you in regards to Clayton. Not only do I find it to be a much better film overall, but I'm consistently surprised at how rewatchable it is on TV as well. It seemed too direct and stiff to hold up to the repeat viewing test, but it's doing a bangup job. And I turn into a big geek when it gets to the final showdown - it's just so perfect.Fletchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299302086449086987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-22111205236851152682009-04-01T13:55:00.000-05:002009-04-01T13:55:00.000-05:00Haha, formula indeed - but LEGAL formula. I guess ...Haha, formula indeed - but LEGAL formula. I guess that's the norm on "Law & Order" and all of those network shows, but I've never watched them so the formula is still fresh. Interesting thing about The Firm is that there aren't actually any scenes that take place in a courtroom.<BR/><BR/>Well I love Cruise in everything, but as I said he only churns out these performances ever few years. You've named two of them, and I'd also add Jerry Maguire, maybe Rain Man, and maybe Eyes Wide Shut. And Collateral. I also loved him in Tropic Thunder. It's a little worrisome that he doesn't have anything in production right now, though...Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-26626088871453086972009-04-01T12:26:00.000-05:002009-04-01T12:26:00.000-05:00I believe THE RAINMAKER to be his best film adapta...I believe THE RAINMAKER to be his best film adaptation, but I agree this is dire stuff, both book and film. I just checked out th enewest addition of Webster's and it has has it's first definition under "formula":<BR/><BR/> formula (for-mu-luh) 1. Anything having to do with the author John Grisham in prose or the movies.<BR/><BR/> THE FIRM wasn't all that bad as far as these things go. It was a frightening film, and I clearly remember my theatrical viewing of it. Normally I turn off to Tom Cruise though, but here he was passable. Only twice in his plolific career did I feel Cruise transcended his material and that was in BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY and MAGNOLIA.<BR/><BR/>Excellent historical and analytical look at the film here!Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-19250694680081756172009-04-01T11:46:00.000-05:002009-04-01T11:46:00.000-05:00I filed suit against Michael Clayton for overuse o...I filed suit against Michael Clayton for overuse of clichés, unnecessarily showing the end of the movie at the beginning, and for trying to sell me the lie that George Clooney would have trouble managing a restaurant in NYC. And I hated the "bad dad" parts.<BR/><BR/>But back to The Firm - I'm psyched that you enjoy it as well, especially considering your Southern sensibilities. But then again I think Grisham did well at portraying the South, avoiding stereotypes (mostly) but still showing what makes the region so unique.<BR/><BR/>That being said, I haven't read one of his new books in at least 10 years now. There's only so many similar titles I can take, and it will be a while before he runs out of legal terms (he hasn't even used "The Judge" yet!):<BR/><BR/># The Firm (1991)<BR/># The Pelican Brief (1992)<BR/># The Client (1993)<BR/># The Chamber (1994)<BR/># The Rainmaker (1995)<BR/># The Runaway Jury (1996)<BR/># The Partner (1997)<BR/># The Street Lawyer (1998)<BR/># The Testament (1999)<BR/># The Brethren (2000)<BR/># The Summons (2002)<BR/># The King of Torts (2003)<BR/># The Last Juror (2004)<BR/># The Broker (2005)<BR/># The Appeal (2008)<BR/># The Associate (2009)<BR/><BR/>According to Wikipedia, Shia LeBeouf has signed on for the film adaptation of The Associate, which just came out in January. Here's a funny review from Jonathan Rosenbaum: "Suffice it to say that The Associate bears many similarities to The Firm, even down to the two dust jackets, which both show shadowy young lawyers on the run. Plagiarism? No, because both books are by John Grisham. Those who believed, even for a moment, that I was suggesting impropriety will recognise this as the sort of false trail that Grisham uses to good effect . . . Though our hero believes himself to be in the clear, he goes along with the blackmailers' demands. The reader screams at him to call their bluff, but that would ruin the story. So we suspend our disbelief. Then, just as we have got used to the idea, he changes his mind and sets about trapping the blackmailers after all. And that's it."<BR/><BR/>Isn't that "it" in all of his books?<BR/><BR/>Ah, and Tripplehorn - I knew I'd seen her name somewhere recently, even though I haven't seen the show. Looks like she's playing Jackie Onassis in the upcoming HBO version of Grey Gardens as well.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-85157236731129572312009-04-01T10:45:00.000-05:002009-04-01T10:45:00.000-05:00The Underrated Movie of the Month (MOTM) for March...<I>The Underrated Movie of the Month (MOTM) for March is a hit from the good old days of legal thrillers: the early 90's, when characters didn't preach (Michael Clayton) and the bad guys weren't based on reality (Michael Clayton) and the stories didn't take themselves so seriously (Michael Clayton).</I><BR/><BR/>So, I'm guessing you don't like <I>Michael Clayton</I> very much?<BR/><BR/>Right on about this flick, I liked it a lot. Ok, so it's not Tarkovsky, but I enjoyed it a lot. And I was right there with you with Grisham, until he lost me six or seven years ago.<BR/><BR/>And Jeanne Tripplehorn is currently terrific as wife number one in HBO's equally terrific "Big Love."Rick Olsonhttp://coosacreek.org/mambonoreply@blogger.com