Tom and Jerry: The Movie [1993] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Amazon.co.uk Review

This first film adaptation of a John Grisham novel is a crackerjack popcorn movie that satisfies even though it radically changes the last half of the book. The novel's dynamic setup is intact: Mitch McDeere, a hot law graduate (a well-suited Tom Cruise), finds a dream job in a luxurious Memphis law firm. His superiors (Gene Hackman, Hal Holbrook) provide Mitch and his young wife, Abby (Jeanne Tripplehorn), with a house and plenty of money in exchange for lots of work, and maybe something more. Soon FBI agents (including a bald Ed Harris) encircle Mitch, telling him his firm has a sinister secret, forcing Mitch into a heck of a pickle. How Mitch deals with his situation is where the book and movie differ, yet by the time Mitch is running from bad guys with suitcase in hand, the movie delivers Grisham's goods. For Sydney Pollack's film, Mitch is more confrontational and heroic. Plot aside, the care Pollack put into this fair-weather thriller is unimpeachable, as is his cast. There is hardly a better all-star cast in any 1990s thriller, from Hackman and Harris in key roles to actors in smaller parts, sometimes with only a scene or two. Standouts include David Strathairn as Mitch's wayward brother, Wilford Brimley as the head of security, film producer Jerry Weintraub as an angry client, Gary Busey as a private investigator and Holly Hunter in a delicious, Oscar-nominated supporting role as Busey's most loyal of secretaries. The cast seems to have had as much fun making the film as we do watching it. It's slick Hollywood product, but first-rate all the way. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic Movie.......2007-07-29

For me, John Grisham can do no wrong (and coming from Arkansas is also a plus!)
Firstly, I loathe Tom Cruise for his stupid beliefs. However, under good direction he can act.
"The Firm" is a tight, well staged movie with the typical Grisham sting in its tail.
Gene Hackman and Hal Holbrook are brilliant. Both very under-rated actors.
This is one fantastic movie. Even when you know the ending, it's worth re-watching again and again.
Buy and enjoy.

Solid but Ordinary Film.......2007-06-24

John Grisham's legal-tinged novels may not be known for their depth, but their page-turning plots attract film makes by the dozen, and 'The Firm', directed by Sydney Pollack, is a typical example. The start of the story, of a hotshot young lawyer (Tom Cruise) who finds himself caught up in dodgy dealings, is a fast-paced, yuppie nightmare that unfolds with some skill. But when the brilliant Cruise decides to turn the tables on his employers, the mob, and the F.B.I. and starts to play his own game, the film descends into predictable, though unlikely, cliché. 'The Firm' remains watchable throughout, thanks to the complexities of the storyline, but in spite of a top-drawer cast that also includes Gene Hackman, it never transcends its genre. This is a solid film, but also an ordinary one.

Once you join the firm, leaving is not an option..............2005-02-06

Mitch McDeere (Tom Cruise) has graduated 3rd in his class at Harvard, all the big firms are about to come calling. He has come a long way from a broken and humble family to make it to the brink of boundless opportunity, and touching distance of unlimited success. He and his wife Abbey, (Jeanne Tripplehorn) a school teacher, have lived the poor life for the duration of his studies, but her faith in him never wavered. As far as she was concerned he was always capable of making six figures.

However what they didn't expect was an offer from a smaller law firm, from Memphis, called Bendini, Lambert and Locke. They want Mitch more than anyone, and they claim they will beat any offer made, somehow they already know what his best offer is. Mitch and Abbey are invited down to Memphis for the weekend, all expenses paid, to have a look around the town and also to attend a party and meet the other partners of the firm.
It is here that things begin to seem a little odd, some things just don't fit, why exactly is it that, "the firm encourages children" and "while not forbidding the wives to work, the firm does not necessarily think it appropriate".
However, Mitch is won over, and it's not long before he and Abbey are heading south to their new house, white picket fence included, with a BMW in the driveway.

The firm immediately begins to swamp Mitch with work for the bar exam whilst introducing him to his unorthodox mentor, Avery. (Gene Hackman) Abbey is also kept busy with renovations for their new house, and gets to meet some of the other wives of partners in the firm.
However just as he's settling in Mitch is approached by an FBI agent (Ed Harris) who informs him that no one has ever left his firm alive! Some have tried, but all have ended up dead. Mitch's new employers are no ordinary law firm, unbeknown to Mitch he has just bought into a life in the mafia, whether he likes it or not.

His only way out is to steal files and hand them over to the feds, thus exposing the corruption. However in doing this not only will he be disbarred for breach of the lawyer client privilege, but he will also have a mafia contract on his life, and be forced to go on the run with the witness protection program.

Mitch has a decision to make.

This film, though different from the book in many respects is a very good adaptation matching the book stride for stride in many respects, however the last portion of the film bares little resemblance to the book, having a totally different ending. However that's Holywood for you, and to match a book exactly on the big screen is to make a film lasting many, many hours, as would be the case in all instances.

Personally I think the film was very good. It was enjoyable, provided some great scenes, good acting, tense moments and thrills and twists that keep the viewer interested and on the edge of their seat from the very start right through to the end.

Dissapointing at best.......2004-02-23

Having read most Grisham novels i am of the opinon that the Firm is possibly the best, However the film adaptation is terrible! The entire second half of the film bares only a vague resembelence to the book. It seems that the ending was adapted due to some budget or perhaps filming constraints, infact the conclusion to the film is totally differant to that of the book. This is very dissapointing as the ending is a complete let down with little of the suspense which made the book so superb. I cannot believe that anyone who as actually read the Firm could be of the opinion that this is a good adaptation, the novel was definately not done justice.

Legal wranglings with the mob!.......2002-03-19

For fans of John Grisham novels this film really is a must see. Probably the best cinematic interpretation of Grisham's unqiue combinination of court room suspense and the human condition, 'The Firm' will keep you on the edge of your seat. The strong plot is supported by an equally impressive cast - Tom Cruise, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Gene Hackman and Ed Harris, as well as the usual faces you would expect to see in a movie about the mafia. A delicate soundtrack, orchestrated by Dave Grusin (whose works also include scores for 'The Graduate) further sets the scene.

Despite the lack of special features, this DVD is a worthy addition to any collection.

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