IMDb >
The Pelican Brief (1993)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThe Pelican Brief (1993) More at IMDbPro »
| Videos (see all 3) |
|
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
17 December 1993 (USA)
more
Tagline:
Two Supreme Court Justices have been assassinated. One lone law student has stumbled upon the truth. An investigative journalist wants her story. Everybody else wants her dead. more
Plot:
A law student uncovers a conspiracy, putting herself and others in danger. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
1 win
&
2 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(18 articles)
2009 Gotham Awards Announce Career Tributes
(From MovieWeb. 23 September 2009, 11:40 AM, PDT)
Joel McHale and Dan Harmon Join the Community
(From MovieWeb. 15 September 2009, 11:40 AM, PDT)
(From MovieWeb. 23 September 2009, 11:40 AM, PDT)
Joel McHale and Dan Harmon Join the Community
(From MovieWeb. 15 September 2009, 11:40 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Good Suspense -- For the Intelligent Movie-Goer
more (63 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Julia Roberts | ... | Darby Shaw |
 | Denzel Washington | ... | Gray Grantham |
 | Sam Shepard | ... | Thomas Callahan |
 | John Heard | ... | Gavin Vereek |
 | Tony Goldwyn | ... | Fletcher Coal |
 | James Sikking | ... | FBI Director Denton Voyles (as James B. Sikking) |
 | William Atherton | ... | Bob Gminski |
| Robert Culp | ... | President |
 | Stanley Tucci | ... | Khamel |
 | Hume Cronyn | ... | Justice Rosenberg |
 | John Lithgow | ... | Smith Keen |
 | Anthony Heald | ... | Marty Velmano |
| Nicholas Woodeson | ... | Stump |
 | Stanley Anderson | ... | Edwin Sneller |
 | John Finn | ... | Matthew Barr |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for momentary language and some violence.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
141 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
New Zealand:PG (DVD rating) |
Canada:AA (Ontario) |
South Korea:12 (DVD rating) |
South Korea:15 |
Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) |
Canada:G (Quebec) |
Canada:PG (Manitoba) |
France:U |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:M |
Chile:14 |
Finland:K-12 |
Germany:12 |
Iceland:12 |
Ireland:PG (DVD rating) |
Netherlands:12 |
Norway:15 |
Spain:13 |
Sweden:11 |
UK:12 |
USA:PG-13 (certificate #32829) |
Singapore:PG
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
F. Denton Voyles is the FBI Director in most of John Grisham's books, when the FBI plays a part.
more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Darby Shaw and Thomas Callahan are in class Darby's hair changes between shots.
more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Justice Rosenberg: Any of those signs got my name on 'em?
Gray Grantham: Quite a few.
Justice Rosenberg: What do they say?
Gray Grantham: The usual: Death to Rosenberg, Retire Rosenberg, Cut off the oxygen.
Justice Rosenberg: [laughs] That's my favorite. Of course you, Mr Grantham, did pretty good by me your last time out: Rosenberg equals the government over business, the individual over government, the environment over everything. And the Indians? Oh, give 'em whatever they want.
Gray Grantham: Well with all due respects sir, that wasn't my line, that was a quote.
Justice Rosenberg: From one of your unnamed senior White House officials; senior White House son of a bitch I should have said, who got in there by stirring up these people, one against the other. It never fails to amaze me what a man will do to get into the Oval Office.
more
Justice Rosenberg: Any of those signs got my name on 'em?
Gray Grantham: Quite a few.
Justice Rosenberg: What do they say?
Gray Grantham: The usual: Death to Rosenberg, Retire Rosenberg, Cut off the oxygen.
Justice Rosenberg: [laughs] That's my favorite. Of course you, Mr Grantham, did pretty good by me your last time out: Rosenberg equals the government over business, the individual over government, the environment over everything. And the Indians? Oh, give 'em whatever they want.
Gray Grantham: Well with all due respects sir, that wasn't my line, that was a quote.
Justice Rosenberg: From one of your unnamed senior White House officials; senior White House son of a bitch I should have said, who got in there by stirring up these people, one against the other. It never fails to amaze me what a man will do to get into the Oval Office.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "The Office: The Deposition (#4.8)" (2007)
more
Soundtrack:
Coach (Theme)
more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (63 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Pelican Brief (1993) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Strangers on a Train | Fury | The Fugitive | JFK | The Client |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Crime section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |
I enjoyed this film very much. It is well acted, and has plenty of star power, with great performances from Roberts and Washington. The story is compelling, and the cinematography lends itself to excellent suspense. However, many moviegoers (including myself) will find elements of the plot confusing and hard to follow. There are a great number of characters, and it is often difficult to tell who is who -- most of the "bad guys" dress alike and have similar hair, so distinguishing them becomes challenging. This may be a minor flaw in either casting or costume, making the characters somewhat undistinguishable. However, it also makes the plot quite intriguing, as the intelligent moviegoer becomes entangled at guessing just exactly who is associated with who, and so on. Still an excellent suspense movie -- if you like other Grisham movies (The Firm, the Rainmaker, etc.) you will like The Pelican Brief. But be warned: watch the film in an attentive state, and be prepared to think a lot. If you are a lazy, sit-back-and-relax type of viewer, this may not be the film for you.