Review of The Client (1994) by Stuart K — 16 Apr 2013

Directed by Joel Schumacher, and adapted from John Grisham's 1993 legal novel, which was optioned before it was published, due to the success of another Grisham adaptation, The Firm (1993)). It's a very good film, although it does descend into over-acting and grand theatrics, (which is to be expected in Schumacher's films), but it manages to hold and it has some very suspenseful moments throughout, and some good performances.

In Memphis, Tennessee. Two young brothers, Mark Sway (Brad Renfro) and Ricky (David Speck) witness mob lawyer Jerome Clifford (Walter Olkewicz) kill himself, before he does so, he discloses to Mark the location of a dead Louisiana senator, after Clifford takes his own life, Ricky goes into shock, while Mark finds himself being hounded by the press and police, not least egotistical U.

S. Senator Roy Foltrigg (Tommy Lee Jones), who wants to know the truth and tries to force the location of the body out of Mark, but Mark finds a good lawyer in Reggie Love (Susan Sarandon), she's tough and no-nonsence, who tries to protect Mark from the mob, the police and Foltrigg.

It's a very suspenseful thriller, which manages to be gripping and keeps you hooked until the end. It's success enabled Schumacher to do another Grisham adaptation, A Time To Kill (1996), it's a shame he hasn't done any more, as he was good at legal thrillers.