The Client (1994)

A young boy who witnessed the suicide of a mafia lawyer hires an attorney to protect him when the District Attorney tries to use him to take down a mob family.

Director:

Joel Schumacher

Writers:

John Grisham (novel), Akiva Goldsman (screenplay)

Stars:

Susan Sarandon, Tommy Lee Jones, Brad Renfro

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Susan Sarandon	...	Reggie Love
Tommy Lee Jones	...	Roy Foltrigg
Mary-Louise Parker	...	Dianne Sway
Anthony LaPaglia	...	Barry Muldano
J.T. Walsh	...	McThune
Anthony Edwards	...	Clint Von Hooser
Brad Renfro	...	Mark Sway
Will Patton	...	Sgt. Hardy
Bradley Whitford	...	Thomas Fink
Anthony Heald	...	Trumann
Kim Coates	...	Paul Gronke
Kimberly Scott	...	Doreen
David Speck	...	Ricky Sway
William H. Macy	...	Dr. Greenway
Ossie Davis	...	Harry Roosevelt

Storyline

Mark Sway is an 11 year old boy who lives with his mother and brother in a trailer. One day he and his brother are hanging out when a car pulls over beside them. The driver then sticks a hose in his exhaust and puts the other end into the car. Mark pulls it out. But the man sees him and grabs him and takes inside the car. The man talks to Mark then later shoots himself. The shock sends Mark's brother into a catatonic state. .And one of his clients is a member of a mob family who is suspected of killing a Senator who was trying to take down his family. But because the Senator's body is missing, they can't prosecute him. Reggie thinks Foltrigg thinks the lawyer told Mark where the body is which is why he wants to speak to him. Mark goes to meet Roy and when he threatens him, Mark steps out then Reggie comes in with a recording of his conversation with Mark telling him that made several violations. In the meantime, the mobster is told by the head of the family to take care of Mark. So he...

---

Plot Keywords:

boy | district attorney | reference to led zeppelin | lawyer client relationship | female lawyer | 

---

Taglines:

A District Attorney Out For A Conviction. A New Lawyer Out Of Her League. A Young Boy Who Knew Too Much.

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for a child in jeopardy and brief language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 July 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Client

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Budget:

$45,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$17,174,262, 24 July 1994

Gross USA:

$92,115,211

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$117,615,211

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Regency Enterprises, Alcor Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

On his experience working in the film, Anthony Heald said: "The real joy of that situation was getting to work with J.T. Walsh. I had worked with him early in my career [in The Beniker Gang (1984)], and he was drinking at the time, and he was a terrible person to be around. By the time we did The Client (1994), he'd achieved sobriety, and he was the most wonderful, gracious -- just a true prince".

---

Goofs

After the shootout at the boathouse near the end, when the bad guys jump into their boat to escape, a diver is visible out in the lake beyond their boat for a second.

---

Quotes

Lawyer's Secretary: Where are your parents?
Mark: Where are yours?
Lawyer's Secretary: Are you even injured?
Mark: Do I look injured?
Lawyer's Secretary: Well, we only do injuries.
Mark: Well, I'll just go get hit by a truck and come back.

---

Connections

Referenced in Films Under Constant Critique: Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997) (2019)

---

Soundtracks

Bourbon Street Parade
Written by Paul Barbarin
Performed by Jimmy Maxwell and his Orchestra
Courtesy of Her Records

User Reviews

Grisham Thriller, Good as Always!

I had a really good time watching this good Grisham's thriller; there are a few thing that putted together make of this movie a good one!: (1) A good script; with Grisham sign on it, is captivating, tense and thrilling. (2) A good cast, with an outstanding acting of Susan Sarandon and a good acting performance of Tommy Lee Jones. (3) Great cinematography (4) Good directing of Joel Schumacher that combine all of the previous. The only thing that i didn't liked much was the acting of the boy Brad Renfo, it was obvious that he is a rookie actor; he doesn't show any emotion during the film, even in the most tense situations, but i respect this, Grisham wanted to look this way; i simply didn't liked it.

ABOUT THE MOVIE: Brad Renfo plays the role of Mark Sway, a boy who don't live in the best economical conditions, who liked to sneak outside his house, one day, with his brother Ricky (David Speck) they saw a man that wanted to commit suicide, an attorney, who before killing himself told Mark that he knew where Barry "The Blade" Muldano (Anthony LaPaglia) hide the corpse of a killed senator; later, he and his brother witnessed the suicide. The story of Mark here became tense as the Police and the news describe him as witness, and the mafia of "The Blade" try to find him, thinking that he knows something; Mark don't wan't to declare what he knows to the police, leaded by Reverend Roy Foltrigg (Tommy Lee Jones) and he finds an attorney, Reggie Love (Susan Sarandon) who protect him. The cat - mouse play begin in a tense and good story; Mark mom Diane (Mary-Louis Parker) plays a good role.

7/10! another good film of Grisham! and Schumacher!