The Firm
Directed by Sydney Pollack
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Gene Hackman, Holly Hunter, Ed Harris, David Strathairn, Tobin Bell
Grade: C –
John Grisham’s “The Client” had a better shot at mainstream success, but was badly acted and directed; “The Firm” just feels like an overcooked attempt to make us care about people we really shouldn’t. Cruise’s discovery of corruption and murder is followed by the implication that his plucky lawyer possesses some sort of elitist brand of ethics – he goes to such lengths to find a legal solution to his problem – which is unjustifiable given the rest of his behaviour (Don’t get me started on his fiscally-dependent relationship with Jeanne Tripplehorn). While I’m reliably informed that Grisham’s novel makes for a bracing read, “The Firm” makes it clear that his specified prose does not lend itself well to broad cinematic appeal. Pollack’s quest to turn the David vs. Goliath-style narrative of this legal drama into the vein of a survivalist thriller further compounds that observation, a distractingly overutilised score one of his failed attempts to inject tension into a strangely anaemic exercise.
[1:13:55]
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It's Episode 30 of In the Mood for Podcast, a British-based film podcast hosted by Calum Reed of Ultimate Addict and Pete Sheppard of In the Mood for Blog. The last podcast of 2012 sees us catch up on releases from the past ten days. They include the dubiously-casted "Jack Reacher," the aca-entertaining "Pitch Perfect," and Bette Midler's return to the screen in family comedy "Parental Guidance." We snubbed the 3D showing of "Life of Pi," but still discuss its visual prowess in length, and also chat about directors with a history of elevating their source material. All of this, plus a discussion about the hotly-contested Foreign Language Oscar race, and a pitch for a Greer Garson biopic.
Discussed on the podcast:
Opening Segment: Discussing the recently announced shortlist of contenders for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar [2:45 - 17:30]
*Preconception Corner*
Reviews of:
- "Jack Reacher"
- "Pitch Perfect"
- "Parental Guidance"
[20:20 - 49:45]
Closing Segment: Our take on “Life of Pi,” and discussing directors who elevate their source material [49:50 - 1:07:35]
*Shag, Marry or Kill?*
*The Watson Factor*
*The Poupaud Range*
Intro Music: New theme music!
Outro Music: Phoenix, "Rome"
