The Firm is an entertaining film that most people will enjoy. I found it quite good, particularly as it is based on John Grisham's novel of the same name. I read Grisham's novel when it was a best seller and frankly was underwhelmed. The movie version, however, goes a little bit more towards animating the story, while I found the novel to be plodding, and yes, b-o-r-i-n-g.

I had a little trouble with the believability of the protagonist and also felt the film could have benefited from some judicious editing, as it clocks in at just over two-and-one-half hours.

The script suffers from the unusual malady of having too little story and at the same time too much story. As I see it, there just was not enough meat in the main story to fill 2 ½ hours. At the same time, there may have been too many smaller stories within the movie to be held within the framework of the main theme. What really redeems The Firm is the character performances by a host of familiar faces who do an absolutely bang-up job with each of their little snippets.

Tom Cruise stars as Mitch McDeer, shown in his senior year of Hahvahd law school. One of the top of his class, Mitch has offers from all the big firms around the country. He makes the understandable decision to go with the top offer, with a firm in Tennessee (??). Mitch is married (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and has a big dog. They get in their modest car and drive to Memphis, their new home.

In Memphis, the firm rolls out the red carpet in a big way. They have a furnished house all ready and waiting for the McDeers. Mitch also gets a Mercedes convertible and his student loans repaid, all courtesy of the firm. However, all is not right in wonderland… The first inkling is where Abby (Jeanne Tripplehorn) meets one of the wives of a lawyer employed by the firm. Sounding like a woman out of The Stepford Wives, she tells Abby its not forbidden for a spouse to work. She also confides that the firm encourages children. "How do they do that?" Abby inquires.

Mitch is assigned as understudy to Avery Tolar (Gene Hackman), a senior lawyer in the firm. Tolar's specialty is offshore banking (also known as money laundering). Hackman gives a finely nuanced performance as a louse, a womanizer and a lawyer who believes there is nothing illegal as long as you get away with it.

Mitch gets the eerie feeling of being watched as he finds out that the firm knows every bit about his personal business. Two lawyers get killed in the Caribbean under mysterious circumstances. Mitch gets accosted by a FBI man (Ed Harris) who tells him the deaths were not an accident and that they are investigating the firm.

Mitch begins to reconsider the wisdom of joining the firm. From humble beginnings, Mitch learned to view everything in terms of money. Now he began to question his beliefs - how much money until he feels rich? For advice, he visits his brother (David Straithairn) who is serving time in the state penitentiary. The brother gives him a contact that is a terrific private investigator.

Eddie Lomax (Gary Busey) is a private eye right out of the pages of Mickey Spillane. When he first appears on screen he is ogling the curvaceous legs and rear end of sexy secretary Tammy (Holly Hunter). Lomax agrees to take the case but runs into unexpected opposition. Tammy goes into hiding and becomes an instrumental part of Mitch's plan to bring the firm down. Meanwhile, the FBI and goons from the firm are closing in on Mitch…

Tom Cruise is pleasant enough and can play a superhero but I found it a little hard to believe a guy fresh out of law school could outsmart a whole firm full of lawyers and the FBI, too, especially in an unfamiliar town. Gene Hackman is almost always good, and this part was no exception. I did not like how the script resolved his character; I found it a weak dodge that he went quietly into the night. Wilford Brimley did a good job as the menacing head of security. Hal Holbrook as the spokesman for the firm was quietly menacing and believable. Holly Hunter was probably the best of the lot as the chain smoking, hip wiggling, and street smart Tammy.

The real strength of The Firm lies in the small characters that are introduced throughout the film: David Straithairn as the brother in prison. Ed Harris as the FBI agent; Dean Harris and Tobin Bell as the hit men; Karina Lombard as the young woman Mitch meets on the beach; Paul Sorvino and Joe Viterelli as the Mafiosi from Chicago; Finally, Gary Busey as the private dick - one of the nicest little character performances ever filmed, and uncredited at that.
Director Sydney Pollack did a good job of telling the story with the exception of the saccharine ending that really didn't fit with the character of the people Tom Cruise found himself up against. They would not let him just walk away from it!

I viewed The Firm in full screen VHS. I found it to be an enjoyable thriller with the exception of the idea that a 25 year-old lawyer could outsmart some very savvy people. Tom Cruise did a good job but just looks too young to be so wise, as maybe most 25 year-olds would. In addition, the film could have been edited down a few minutes by taking some of the extra subplots out. I found there were more than enough twists and turns and one or two less plot threads would have made it a better-paced film. I would suggest cut the Wilford Brimley intimidation scene and the albino chase across the river as likely places to apply the scissors. Other than that, it would be two thumbs way up! Three stars.

Happy viewing!



Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening