The Pelican Brief (1993)

After two Supreme Court justices (Hume Cronyn, Ralph Cosham) are assassinated, at the urging of her law professor and lover (Sam Shepard), a law student (Julia Roberts) writes a theory (referred to as the pelican brief) on the possible motivations behind the assassinations as well as who is behind it. The professor passes it on to a friend (John Heard) who works for the FBI. But when the professor is murdered and other killings follow, it becomes clear that her theory hits too close to home. Based on the novel by John Grisham and directed by Alan J. Pakula (KLUTE). This is a first rate conspiracy thriller which is not surprising considering that Pakula (whose last film this was) directed one of the best in the genre, THE PARALLAX VIEW. If it doesn't quite measure up to that film, it's slicker and more polished than PARALLAX but if it doesn't require much thought, it still makes for an exciting thriller. In addition to the terrific chemistry between Roberts and Denzel Washington (as a Washington DC journalist) in a double shot of Star wattage, this is a stunning looking film thanks to Stephen Goldblatt's (PRINCE OF TIDES) cinematography. It's a bit on the long side (pushing 2 1/2 hours) but it's intense and it never lags. With John Lithgow, Stanley Tucci, Cynthia Nixon, Robert Culp, Tony Goldwyn, William Atherton and James Sikking.