The 1993 legal thriller The Pelican Brief, starring Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington, is now available to stream on Netflix in the UK. The film, adapted from John Grisham's bestselling novel, centres on the assassination of two US Supreme Court justices on the same night.
Plot and Cast
New Orleans law student Darby Shaw, played by Julia Roberts, launches her own investigation and writes a speculative legal brief that uncovers a conspiracy involving the presidency and corporate interests behind the killings. After sharing her findings, her law professor boyfriend is killed in a car bombing staged as a cover-up.
Darby then teams up with investigative journalist Gray Grantham, played by Denzel Washington, to expose the conspiracy. The supporting cast includes Stanley Tucci, Sam Shepard, John Heard and Tony Goldwyn.
Background and Reception
John Grisham published The Pelican Brief as a novel in 1992, and Alan J. Pakula directed the 1993 film adaptation, which was his final project before his death in 1998. The film grossed $195 million at the box office against a production budget of $45 million.
Critical reviews were mixed, with some critics criticising the pacing while praising the plot and performances. One Rotten Tomatoes reviewer said the film is "very much a 90s movie, in a good way," adding that "it leans more on the acting than the mystery, which isn't too hard to figure out, but it's still really entertaining and easy to watch."
Another reviewer praised the film's pacing, calling it "a rich film, still relevant today and with a masterly pacing that is lacking in current films." A further review described it as an "Excellent adaptation of Grisham's novel that stays true to the storyline for the most part. Great performances by Roberts and Washington."
The Pelican Brief is now available to watch on Netflix.
