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The Pelican Brief

The Pelican Brief

Thriller · Crime · Drama · 1993

A law student's theory about the recent deaths of two Supreme Court justices embroils her in a far-reaching web of murder, corruption, and greed.

Movie details

The Pelican Brief

“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.”

1993 Thriller · Crime · Drama 2h 21m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.6 / 10

Community rating

A law student's theory about the recent deaths of two Supreme Court justices embroils her in a far-reaching web of murder, corruption, and greed.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Pelican Brief?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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The Star Chamber

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Alan J. Pakula

Written by

Alan J. Pakula

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts

Darby Shaw

Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington

Gray Grantham

Sam Shepard

Sam Shepard

Thomas Callahan

John Heard

John Heard

Gavin Vereek

Tony Goldwyn

Tony Goldwyn

Fletcher Coal

James B. Sikking

James B. Sikking

Denton Voyles

William Atherton

William Atherton

Bob Gminski

Court is in session

Put The Pelican Brief on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Big-Idea Head

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.