Review of The Pelican Brief (1993) by Quinn C — 12 Feb 2012

While solidly directed by the underrated Alan Pakula, the Pelican Brief could have been much better. The only really good parts of the film were then young Julia Roberts and the always dashing Denzel Washington.

I also wonder why Pakula did not go for any romantic angle between Darby Shaw and Gray Grantham but given this was the early 1990s and Roberts had a huge following, she might risk losing her following had she done any romantic scenes with Washington.

Same could be said for Washington as well. This film adaptation did not stay with the John Grisham novel it was based off of and it dragged on forever. The pacing could have been much better. Still, an adequate adaptation of the Grisham novel but not really worth seeing again.