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The Pelican Brief

  • 19931993
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 21m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
84K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,513
116
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington in The Pelican Brief (1993)
Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
99+ Photos
CrimeDramaMystery
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.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
84K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,513
116
  • Director
    • Alan J. Pakula
  • Writers
    • John Grisham(book)
    • Alan J. Pakula(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Julia Roberts
    • Denzel Washington
    • Sam Shepard
Top credits
  • Director
    • Alan J. Pakula
  • Writers
    • John Grisham(book)
    • Alan J. Pakula(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Julia Roberts
    • Denzel Washington
    • Sam Shepard
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 138User reviews
    • 56Critic reviews
    • 50Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos1

    The Pelican Brief
    Trailer 0:31
    The Pelican Brief

    Photos105

    Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington in The Pelican Brief (1993)
    Julia Roberts in The Pelican Brief (1993)
    Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington in The Pelican Brief (1993)
    Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington in The Pelican Brief (1993)
    Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington in The Pelican Brief (1993)
    Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, and Dennis Quaid in The Pelican Brief (1993)
    Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington in The Pelican Brief (1993)
    Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington in The Pelican Brief (1993)
    The Pelican Brief (1993)
    Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington in The Pelican Brief (1993)
    Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington in The Pelican Brief (1993)
    Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington in The Pelican Brief (1993)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Julia Roberts
    Julia Roberts
    • Darby Shawas Darby Shaw
    Denzel Washington
    Denzel Washington
    • Gray Granthamas Gray Grantham
    Sam Shepard
    Sam Shepard
    • Thomas Callahanas Thomas Callahan
    John Heard
    John Heard
    • Gavin Verheekas Gavin Verheek
    Tony Goldwyn
    Tony Goldwyn
    • Fletcher Coalas Fletcher Coal
    James Sikking
    James Sikking
    • FBI Director Denton Voylesas FBI Director Denton Voyles
    • (as James B. Sikking)
    William Atherton
    William Atherton
    • Bob Gminskias Bob Gminski
    Robert Culp
    Robert Culp
    • Presidentas President
    Stanley Tucci
    Stanley Tucci
    • Khamelas Khamel
    Hume Cronyn
    Hume Cronyn
    • Justice Rosenbergas Justice Rosenberg
    John Lithgow
    John Lithgow
    • Smith Keenas Smith Keen
    Anthony Heald
    Anthony Heald
    • Marty Velmanoas Marty Velmano
    Nicholas Woodeson
    Nicholas Woodeson
    • Stumpas Stump
    Stanley Anderson
    Stanley Anderson
    • Edwin Snelleras Edwin Sneller
    John Finn
    John Finn
    • Matthew Barras Matthew Barr
    Cynthia Nixon
    Cynthia Nixon
    • Alice Starkas Alice Stark
    Jake Weber
    Jake Weber
    • Charles Morganas Charles Morgan…
    Casey Biggs
    Casey Biggs
    • Eric Eastas Eric East
    • Director
      • Alan J. Pakula
    • Writers
      • John Grisham(book)
      • Alan J. Pakula(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Two Supreme Court Justices have been killed. Now a college professor, who clerked for one of the two men and who is also having an affair with one of his students, is given a brief by her that states who probably wanted to see these two men dead. He then gives it to one of his friends, who works for the FBI. When the FBI director reads it, he is fascinated by it. One of the president's men who read it is afraid that if it ever got out, the president could be smeared. So he advises the president to tell the director to drop it, which he does. But later the professor and the girl were out and he was drunk and when he refused to give her the keys, she stepped out of the car. When he started it, it blew up. She then discovers that her place has been burglarized and what was taken were her computer and her disks. Obviously, her brief has someone agitated. She then turns to her boyfriend's friend at the FBI. He agrees to come meet her but before he does, someone shoots him and takes his place. At the meeting, he was about to kill her when someone shoots him. She then decides to turn to Gray Grantham, an investigative reporter, who was contacted by someone who says he has info on the killings but backed out at the last minute. He then meets her and tells her what her brief is, and basically, the man she suspects is a good friend of the president, and is trying to manipulate the outcome of a trial that is now before the Supreme Court. Grantham tells her that her brief can harm the president and although all they have are theories, he asks her to help him, but she wants to leave the country. Then Grantham's editor tells him that they have nothing, that he should drop cause the man she implicated is extremely powerful. Grantham is about to drop it when she says that she will help him. But can they stay alive? —rcs0411@yahoo.com
    investigative reporterreporterconspiracylaw studentinvestigation249 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • 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.
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for momentary language and some violence
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Filmed in sequence.
    • Goofs
      Justice 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

      Gray Grantham: Do you want to talk about the brief?

      Darby Shaw: Everyone I have told about the brief is dead.

      Gray Grantham: I take my chances.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Pelican Brief/Beethoven's 2nd/Philadelphia/What's Eating Gilbert Grape/Wrestling Ernest Hemmingway (1993)
    • Soundtracks
      Blues For Carol
      Written and Performed by Clarence Hollimon

      Courtesy of Black Top Records

    User reviews138

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Good Suspense -- For the Intelligent Movie-Goer
    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.
    helpful•109
    28
    • KCS82
    • Jul 25, 2000

    FAQ7

    • What is "The Pelican Brief" about?
    • Is "The Pelican Brief" based on a book?
    • How did Darby know to get out of the rental car before it blew up?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 17, 1993 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Hồ Sơ Bồ Nông
    • Filming locations
      • New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • 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
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 21 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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