Movie Cosmos - The Pelican Brief

Description:

A law student's theory about the recent deaths of two Supreme Court justices embroils her in a far-reaching web of murder, corruption, and greed.

Top Cast >

Julia Roberts

As Darby Shaw

Denzel Washington

As Gray Grantham

Sam Shepard

As Thomas Callahan

John Heard

As Gavin Vereek

Tony Goldwyn

As Fletcher Coal

James B. Sikking

As Denton Voyles

William Atherton

As Bob Gminski

Robert Culp

As The President

Stanley Tucci

As Khamel

Hume Cronyn

As Justice Rosenberg

John Lithgow

As Smith Keen

Anthony Heald

As Marty Velmano

Nicholas Woodeson

As Stump

Stanley Anderson

As Edwin Sneller

John Finn

As Matthew Barr

Cynthia Nixon

As Alice Stark

Jake Weber

As Curtis Morgan

Casey Biggs

As Eric East

Christopher Murray

As Rupert

Sonny Jim Gaines

As Sarge

Kevin Geer

As K.O. Lewis

Joe Chrest

As Song and Dance Man from Bar

Richard Bauer

As Managing Editor

Michelle O'Neill

As Sara Ann Morgan

Peter Carlin

As Edward Linney

Ralph Cosham

As Justice Jensen

Terrence Currier

As Rosenberg's Nurse

Edwin Newman

As Edwin Newman

Helen Carey

As Federal Clerk

Howard Shalwitz

As Washington Herald Journalist

Kyle Prue

As News Desk Reporter

Jewell Robinson

As Senior Washington Herald Editor

Kim Peter Kovac

As Senior Washington Herald Editor

Norman Aronovic

As Senior Washington Herald Editor

Carl Palmer

As Cop in Cowboy Boots

Carol Sutton

As New Orleans Policewoman

Scott M. Jefferson

As Lieutenant Olsen

Danny Kamin

As Hooten

Mark McLaughlin

As CIA Agent in Hotel Room

Robert Pavlovich

As CIA Agent in Hotel Room

Magee Hickey

As Magee Hickey

Constance Yelverton

As Clerk at Sheraton Hotel

Kim Kettle

As Gavin Verheek's Wife

Ellie K. Wang

As Reporter at National Cathedral

Franchelle Stewart Dorn

As University Registrar

Karen Bralove

As University Placement Clerk

Teagle F. Bougere

As Male University Student

Carey Varner

As Female University Student

Sandra Quarterman

As Laura Kass

Cynthia Hood

As Parklane Receptionist

Alan Wade

As Parklane Administrator

Harold Surratt

As Parklane Security Officer

Paul Morella

As White & Blazevich Attorney

Ed Johnson

As White & Blazevich Security Guard

Jurian Hughes

As White & Blazevich Receptionist

Dick Stilwell

As White & Blazevich Security

Tom Quinn

As Sara Ann Morgan's Father

Beverly Brigham

As Safe Deposit Teller

Eliza Coleman

As Female Pursuer with Gun

Doug Coleman

As Male Pursuer with Gun

Michael Port

As Tulane Law Student

Shanna Connell

As Tulane Law Student

Gene Babb

As Reporter

Kyle Duvall

As Reporter

Karl Warren

As Reporter

Carrie Boren

As Reporter

James Earl Reed

As Reporter

Marianne Hettinger

As Eyewitness (uncredited)

Shane LeCocq

As Mardi Gras Party Patron (uncredited)

Kimberley Roper

As French Quarter Prostitute (uncredited)

Codie Scott

As Man Partying in Quarter (uncredited)

William Shipman

As Office Worker (uncredited)

Joe James

As Runner (voice,uncredited)

Top Crew >

Alan J. Pakula

Screenplay, Producer, Director

Pieter Jan Brugge

Producer

John Grisham

Novel

Stephen Goldblatt

Director of Photography

Tom Rolf

Editor

Trudy Ship

Editor

Lisa Fischer

Set Decoration

Alixe Gordin

Casting

Robert Guerra

Art Direction

Ron Bochar

Sound Re-Recording Mixer, Supervising Sound Editor

Louis Sabat

Boom Operator

Philip Rosenberg

Production Design

Dick Mingalone

Camera Operator

James Sabat

Production Sound Mixer

Rick Simpson

Set Decoration

James Horner

Original Music Composer

Albert Wolsky

Costume Design

Doug Coleman

Stunt Coordinator

Michael J. Cerone

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Richard Portman

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Celia D. Costas

Unit Production Manager

Kelly Irvine

First Assistant Editor

Ted Churchill

Steadicam Operator

Donald Laventhall

Associate Producer

John Shoemaker

Rigging Gaffer

Rick Dior

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Dianne Dreyer

Script Supervisor

Ken Regan

Still Photographer

Trey Batchelor

Second Second Assistant Director

Eliza Coleman

Stunts

Marissa Littlefield

Dialogue Editor

Magdaline Volaitis

Dialogue Editor

Robert Hein

Dialogue Editor

Thomas Saccio

Property Master

Shinique Smith

Production Assistant

Patricia Serafina Madiedo

Production Office Coordinator

David M. Bernstein

Set Production Assistant

Jeanmarie Murphy-Burke

Unit Publicist

Cheryl A. Stone

Production Accountant

Allison Sherman

Production Office Coordinator

Michael R. Kern

Assistant Accountant

Gary Huckabay

Location Manager

Elizabeth Sherry

Assistant Editor

Foongy Lee

Location Manager

Michele Ortlip

Casting Associate

John Rusk

Second Assistant Director

Michael Wallace

Location Manager

Sallie Jones Arata

Production Secretary

Charles Lum

Location Manager

Benita Hofstetter

Local Casting

Kimberly Skyrme

Extras Casting

Peter Kohn

First Assistant Director

Michael Proscia Jr.

Additional Second Assistant Director

Edward Allen

Assistant Accountant

Ramsay King

Local Casting

Rick Landry

Extras Casting

Kerry Orent

Post Production Supervisor

Eric Chambers

Stunts

Roy Farfel

Stunts

Tabby Hanson

Stunts

Richard L. Blackwell

Stunts

David Efron

Stunts

Linda Perlin

Stunts

Mick O'Rourke

Stunts

Jerome Chen

Lead Animator

Reviews:

Wuchak (6/10)

Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington team-up in this crime thriller

RELEASED IN 1993 and directed by Alan J. Pakula from John Grisham’s novel, "The Pelican Brief” is a political drama/thriller about a law student (Julia Roberts) who researches the murders of two supreme court justices and shares her theory with her college professor (Sam Shepard) who, in turn, gives it to an FBI friend on a lark. The brief hits a nerve because people start dying one-by-one. Denzel Washington plays a DC reporter who teams-up with the student while Robert Culp appears as the president.

While I prefer “The Firm” (1993), which was also written by Grisham, this one is along the same lines, albeit with a totally different story (naturally). “Pelican” has more action, but the plot/characters aren’t quite as interesting IMHO. Still, if you liked one, you’ll probably appreciate the other.

THE MOVIE RUNS 2 hours, 21 minutes and was shot in New Orleans and Washington DC/Maryland. ADDITIONAL CAST: John Heard plays an FBI agent, Stanley Tucci a hitman and John Lithgow an editor.

GRADE: B/B-

2018-05-25