The Firm

Details

Mitch McDeere is a young and talented man with a bright future in law. About to sit his Bar exam he approaches a number of law firms, intent on securing the best paid job in order to escape his working-class background. However, it is a small Memphis firm that impresses him the most. They offer him a package he simply cannot refuse - 20% more pay than rival offers, a subsidised mortgage and even a Mercedes company car.

It all seems too good to be true, but Mitch signs on the dotted line and quickly becomes immersed in his new lifestyle. Surrounded by wealth, prestige and the promise of rapid career progression, he initially fails to notice the darker side of the firm and its mysterious clients.

When two of the firm's associates are mysteriously killed in the Cayman Islands, the FBI begin to suspect that something far more sinister lies behind the respectable facade of the Memphis practice. They approach Mitch and ask for his help in bringing the firm down. Mitch soon finds himself trapped in a no-win situation. If he refuses to cooperate the FBI will eventually uncover the truth anyway and he will be implicated along with the rest of the firm. If he does help them, he risks violating client confidentiality and could be disbarred. Mitch must find another way out before both the FBI and the firm close in on him.

Picture & Sound

The picture is bright and colourful, although occasionally a little washed out. It does suffer from a few minor picture imperfections throughout the film, but this appears to be down to the original film stock rather than the DVD transfer itself. The bit-rate remains consistently high and there are no visible signs of artifacting or outlining.

The sound can best be described as functional. The surround channels are used effectively for the musical score but are rarely called upon for anything more dramatic. There are no real LFE moments to speak of, although with this being a dialogue-driven thriller it would be unfair to expect something on par with Cruise's later action films. Dialogue remains clear and well balanced in the centre channel throughout.

Menu & Extras

This is a typical Paramount release with a distinct lack of extras. The inclusion of both the teaser and theatrical trailers is actually quite generous by Paramount's standards. Still, one has to wonder when the company will realise that DVD buyers expect more value from catalogue titles.

Overall

The Firm may not be the most faithful adaptation of John Grisham's novel - the latter half of the film diverges quite noticeably from the book - but it remains a thoroughly engaging legal thriller. Director Sydney Pollack keeps the tension building steadily throughout the film, and the strong supporting cast adds real weight to the story.

Tom Cruise delivers one of his more restrained performances as Mitch McDeere, supported brilliantly by veterans such as Gene Hackman and Wilford Brimley. Combined with a gripping premise and a steadily escalating sense of paranoia, the film remains highly watchable even today. It is certainly one of the better big-screen adaptations of Grisham's work and a thriller I find myself returning to regularly.

Special features

• Teaser Trailer
• Theatrical Trailer