MovieChat Forums > The Rainmaker (1997) Discussion > Is this the best of the Grisham adaptati...

Is this the best of the Grisham adaptations?

posted 5 years ago by PrimeMinisterX (8289)
17 replies | jump to latest

I think it might be, though I say that with the caveat that I still haven't seen The Pelican Brief, The Chamber or The Gingerbread Man. It is at least the best that I've seen.

Francis Ford Coppola did a great job here crafting a film that had great casting and performances, interesting twists and turns, and some good humor.

Damon is great here in this early role and it, along with Good Will Hunting which was released the same year, helped to establish him as a star.

Personally, of the Grisham films that I've seen, I'd rank them thusly:

The Rainmaker
A Time to Kill
The Client
The Firm
Runaway Jury

I think I'll watch The Pelican Brief tonight. I believe it is supposed to be pretty good.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I would rank them:

A Time to Kill
The Firm
The Rainmaker
The Client
The Chamber
Runaway Jury
The Pelican Brief
The Gingerbread Man

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8289) 5 years ago

I actually just rewatched A Time to Kill a few nights. It's a good film, but a bit hammy and the racial stuff is overdone and a bit annoying. The idea of the Klan marching down the street in Mississippi in the 90s was ridiculous. It just wouldn't have happened. But with that said, it was a star turn for Matthew, and the rest of the cast was also excellent.

I'm surprised you rank The Firm so highly. I have watched it twice and find it slow, a little hard to follow and just kind of dull.

As I said, I haven't seen The Chamber but I have mostly heard bad things. I know it only has a 12% on RT.

[–] Aries (762) 4 years ago

I'd definitely say so. This movie is one of my guilty pleasures and I re-watch it once every couple of years.

Like all those other ones too. Another one of my favorite movies is 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose', cause it combines the legal and horror genres - the courtroom scenes in that flick are just as great as the horror elements and Laura Linney did an amazing job, as did Jennifer Carpenter (and most of the rest of the cast). Sci-fi, action and horror are my top 3 fav genres in no particular order.

We haven't had a decent legal thriller like this in years. The Judge and Dark Waters are the most recent ones I can think of and neither of them were that good.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8289) 4 years ago

Why would you call it a GUILTY pleasure? That term is usually reserved for films that aren't actually good movies. This is a great movie, though! Why do you feel guilty about liking it?

The Exorcism of Emily Rose was interesting. I still remember when that one came out. It's kind of amazing how long ago that was now. As you say, it's a weird but intriguing mix of a supernatural thriller and courtroom drama.

I did like The Judge and I also liked Dark Waters. Dark Waters, by the way, is based on a true story. There's a documentary about the Dupont story called The Devil We Know, and I think it's currently on Netflix. I recommend it.

[–] Aries (762) 4 years ago

Haha when I discuss movies with my mates and mention this one as a favorite of mine, I've gotten odd looks before lol. The people you talk to in IMDb / MC.org are far more knowledgeable and passionate about cinema compared to the average person you come across IRL, which is why a lot of us use these boards, I guess. Most of my friends watch movies, but then move on and would rather talk about sports or politics. I, OTOH, feel almost unfulfilled with a movie or TV show watching experience until I read discussions and possibly even post about them in the boards afterwards.

You're right, no need to feel bad about liking this movie, esp. here in these boards :D And while I didn't dislike Dark Waters, I just didn't find the courtroom scenes very compelling - I like seeing good back and forth between lawyers like you do in most John Grisham novel based movies and can't recall any such scenes in DW. I'll check out that doco, thanks.

[–] kwestmo (4114) 4 years ago

yes it is

[–] Ranb (7148) 2 years ago

I agree with your rankings for the most part. But I don't think any of them are very good.

Based upon the great job they did with The Queen's Gambit, these books could be much better adapted to TV mini-series.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8289) 2 years ago

I think The Rainmaker and A Time to Kill are both great movies. After that, the quality begins to drop.

A mini-series could work, though I've never actually read any of his books to know how well the books stack up to the written word.

[–] Ranb (7148) 2 years ago

The films based upon the Grisham books are pared down, a lot or changed.

The Firm - Much less character details. Mitch steals from his client and violates attorney client privilege big time in the book.

The Rainmaker - Most of the work Rudy did to prepare for the trial is omitted. Cliff Riker was probably murdered.

Runaway Jury - Most of the detail on how the defense did their best to manipulate the jury is omitted. Nicholas Easter of the book is a violent person who poisons the jury foreman when he can't bend him to his will. In the film he is one of the good guys.

The Pelican Brief - Details of the murder victims and the killer are mostly absent from the film.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8289) 2 years ago

Interesting. Thanks for the info.

The Rainmaker sounds like it might be a good read. I should check it out.

From what I understand regarding Runaway Jury is that an obviously huge change is that the villain in the book is a tobacco company rather than a gunmaker. Should've stuck with tobacco. 95% of people realize that smoking is a nasty and destructive habit. But if you try to make a political statement on guns you're going to piss off half your viewers.

[–] AviAAksenazi (568) 2 years ago

With 2022 eyes:

The Rainmaker
Runaway Jury
A Time to Kill
The Firm

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8289) 2 years ago

I'm quite shocked to see Runaway Jury so high. It might be my least favorite of all the Grisham films.

[–] AviAAksenazi (568) 2 years ago

Still holds up. Apposed to The Client.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8289) 2 years ago

Interesting. I thought it sucked from the beginning, so in my mind there isn't much holding up to do.

I'd much rather rewatch The Client.

[–] Ranb (7148) 2 years ago

In the film they made "Reverend Roy" Foltrigg one of the good guys when in the book he was one of the primary antagonists.

[–] Ranb (7148) 2 years ago

Yes. They turn one of the bad guys (Easter) into a good guy.

[–] Whom (528) a year ago

With 2022 eyes + 12 months, this is absolutely the best of the Grisham adaptations, and I venture to say, one of the best courtroom films ever made.