The Gingerbread Man (1998)

A lawyer uses his power to help his lover put her father behind bars, but when he escapes, they are all in danger.

Director:

Robert Altman

Writers:

John Grisham (story), Clyde Hayes (screenplay) (as Al Hayes)

Stars:

Kenneth Branagh, Embeth Davidtz, Robert Downey Jr.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kenneth Branagh	...	Rick Magruder
Embeth Davidtz	...	Mallory Doss
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Clyde Pell
Daryl Hannah	...	Lois Harlan
Robert Duvall	...	Dixon Doss
Tom Berenger	...	Pete Randle
Famke Janssen	...	Leeanne Magruder
Clyde Hayes	...	Carl Alden
Mae Whitman	...	Libby Magruder
Jesse James	...	Jeff Magruder
Troy Byer	...	Konnie Dugan (as Troy Beyer)
Julia Ryder Perce	...	Cassandra (as Julia R. Perce)
Danny Darst	...	Sheriff Hope
Sonny Seiler	...	Phillip Dunson
Walter Hartridge	...	Edmund Hess

Storyline

Lawyer Rick Magruder has a one-night-stand affair with caterer Mallory Doss. He becomes hooked on her, and when he learns her nut-case father Dixon is threatening her, he puts the weight of his law firm behind Mallory, has Dixon arrested and subpoenas her ex-husband Pete to testify against Dixon in court. Dixon is sent to an asylum, but escapes from there and the lives of many people are in danger.

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Plot Keywords:

law firm | killing a pet | full frontal female nudity | barefoot woman | one night stand | 

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality, violence and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The screenplay is credited to "Al Hayes". This pseudonym covers for John Grisham, who objected to the foul language that Altman added to his original screenplay.

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Goofs

In the beginning of the movie, as Rick returns to Savannah, Georgia from a trial in Jacksonville, Florida, he crosses the Talmadge Memorial Bridge. The bridge spans the Savannah River and is located north of the city. Jacksonville, of course, is located south of Savannah, and Rick would have to go way out of his way to cross the bridge as he enters Savannah.

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Quotes

Clyde Pell: No offense ma'am, but it's always appeared to me your Dad's a few beers shy of a six-pack.

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Connections

Referenced in The Directors: The Films of Robert Altman (2001)

User Reviews

Grisham strikes again, unfortunately.

While it's true, as others have noted, that this movie succeeds on style (acting, direction and cinematography are all first-rate) a thriller must have a compelling plot, and that is something that Grisham's paint-by-numbers approach consistently fails to deliver. There is a bit of a zig and a zag at the end, but it remains utterly conventional and unsurprising, and while it's watchable one can't help but feel cheated. All that talent and atmosphere, and whiffs of tantalizing plot developments that never amount to much, make this movie one long tease.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 January 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gingerbread Man

Filming Locations:

Guyton, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$118,278, 25 January 1998

Gross USA:

$1,677,131

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,677,131

Company Credits

Production Co:

Enchanter Entertainment, Island Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1