A law student uncovers a conspiracy, putting herself and others in danger.A law student uncovers a conspiracy, putting herself and others in danger.A law student uncovers a conspiracy, putting herself and others in danger.
- Awards
- 1 win & 2 nominations
James Sikking
- FBI Director Denton Voyles
- (as James B. Sikking)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJohn Grisham typically signs over the rights to his books and does not participate in film production decisions. For "The Pelican Brief," he campaigned to get Julia Roberts the role of Darby Shaw.
- GoofsJustice Jensen is killed by Khamel using a rope to strangle him. It takes him no more than a second to kill him. It seems highly unlikely that one could strangle a person in just one second. However, the strangulation is not shown, but judging by Khamel's quick yank and the sound Jensen made, it seems likely that he successfully dislocated or crushed a vertebra in his neck, which would quickly cause suffocation.
- Quotes
FBI Director Denton Voyles: So you're the little lady who started this great brouhaha.
- Alternate versionsThe Blu-ray release plastered the opening Warner Bros. Pictures logo with the silent version of the 2003 variant.
- SoundtracksBlues For Carol
Written and Performed by Clarence Hollimon
Courtesy of Black Top Records
Featured review
Everyone I have told about the brief is dead.
Take any John Grisham novel and have it brought to screen, written and directed by Alan J. Pakula (Sophie's Choice, All the President's Men. To Kill a Mockingbird), and add Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington as the leads, and you have a movie that is worthy of 141 minutes of your life.
I love political films. You know that if you have read my reviews. Political thrillers are especially great. This one is well worth watching for the story, the directing, and, most especially, for the lead actors. I do not think that Washington and Roberts have ever disappointed me - OK, there was that License to Kill in 1984.
I won't synopsize - you can get that anywhere - but, I will say that you will not be disappointed. It's not a popcorn movie, you have to put some effort into watching it, but the rewards are great. And the chemistry between Roberts and Washington is fantastic!
I love political films. You know that if you have read my reviews. Political thrillers are especially great. This one is well worth watching for the story, the directing, and, most especially, for the lead actors. I do not think that Washington and Roberts have ever disappointed me - OK, there was that License to Kill in 1984.
I won't synopsize - you can get that anywhere - but, I will say that you will not be disappointed. It's not a popcorn movie, you have to put some effort into watching it, but the rewards are great. And the chemistry between Roberts and Washington is fantastic!
helpful•4118
- lastliberal
- Aug 14, 2007
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $45,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $100,768,056
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $16,864,404
- Dec 19, 1993
- Gross worldwide
- $195,268,056
- Runtime2 hours 21 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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