The Pelican Brief

Based on John Grisham’s novel, The Pelican Brief follows law student Darby Shaw (Julia Roberts) as she uncovers a massive conspiracy after two prominent Supreme Court justices are murdered – with the character’s efforts at exposing the truth (and staying alive) eventually assisted by an earnest reporter named Gray Grantham (Denzel Washington). There’s little doubt that The Pelican Brief fares best in its fast-paced and sporadically engrossing first half, as writer/director Alan J. Pakula does an effective job of establishing the movie’s somewhat complicated narrative and its myriad of characters – with the inclusion of several thoroughly engaging sequences and suspense-oriented set-pieces certainly perpetuating the compelling vibe. (It doesn’t hurt, certainly, that the filmmaker has packed the supporting cast with a variety of engaging figures, including Tony Goldwyn, Sam Shepard, John Heard, and John Lithgow.) It’s just as clear, however, that Pakula is unable to sustain the often palpable tension throughout the picture’s bloated 141 minute running time, which does ensure, unfortunately, that The Pelican Brief‘s third act isn’t quite able to pack the captivating punch that one might’ve naturally anticipated. Roberts and Washington’s solid work here, as well as their obvious chemistry together, ultimately plays a significant role in smoothing over the movie’s less-than-stellar patches, and it’s apparent, in the end, that The Pelican Brief has cemented its place as a perfectly watchable (and periodically electrifying) legal thriller that’s aged surprisingly well in the years since its theatrical release.

*** out of ****