The Pelican Brief, rated PG-13 in the U.S., is a legal crime thriller based on the novel by the same name written by John Grisham and was adapted into a feature film in 1993, directed by Alan J. Pakula and starring Julia Roberts in the role of young law student Darby Shaw and Denzel Washington as Washington Herald reporter Gray Grantham. Image File history File links Pelican_brief_dvd. ... Alan Jay Pakula (April 7, 1928 - November 19, 1998) was an American film producer, writer and director noted for his contributions to the conspiracy thriller genre. ... Alan Jay Pakula (April 7, 1928 - November 19, 1998) was an American film producer, writer and director noted for his contributions to the conspiracy thriller genre. ... John Ray Grisham Jr. ... Alan Jay Pakula (April 7, 1928 - November 19, 1998) was an American film producer, writer and director noted for his contributions to the conspiracy thriller genre. ... Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. ... Julia Fiona Roberts (born October 28, 1967) is an American film actress and former fashion model. ... James Roy Horner (born August 14, 1953) is an American composer of orchestral and film music. ... Warner Bros. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... The MPAA film rating system is a system used in the United States and instituted by the Motion Picture Association of America to rate a movie based on its content. ... The Pelican Brief is a legal/suspense thriller written by John Grisham in 1992. ... John Ray Grisham Jr. ... “Moving picture” redirects here. ... The year 1993 in film involved many significant films. ... Alan Jay Pakula (April 7, 1928 - November 19, 1998) was an American film producer, writer and director noted for his contributions to the conspiracy thriller genre. ... Julia Fiona Roberts (born October 28, 1967) is an American film actress and former fashion model. ... Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. ...

Two Supreme Court justices are assassinated. They had been very different in their voting patterns and opinions in cases that had come before them. Tulane law student Darby Shaw theorizes that there may be some similarity in their otherwise-different voting patterns that may provide a motive for their assassinations. She discovers that both were protective of the environment (the only subject the two agreed on) in their votes. Research also reveals that the Fifth Circuit ruling, contrary to a corporation's financial interest, had ruled in favor of protecting an expanse of wetlands in Louisiana used by pelicans and other wildlife as a habitat. Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States are the members of the Supreme Court of the United States other than the Chief Justice of the United States. ... Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... For other uses, see Pelican (disambiguation). ...

The Supreme Court was expected to eventually hear an appeal by the corporation of that Fifth Circuit ruling; but now, two pro-environment justices who have been assassinated will not be able to take part in any Supreme Court vote on the appeal, and the main villain, oil magnate Victor Mattiece (a close friend of the President) hopes to have pro-oil justices named as their replacements.

Darby decides to research who might have been responsible for the murders, and writes her theories into a paper, which she shows to her law professor; he, in turn, gives it to a friend of his in the FBI so he can examine the theory contained in the paper (which becomes known as the "pelican brief"). Not long after this, her law professor is killed by a car bomb, intended to kill Darby. F.B.I. and FBI redirect here. ...

Afraid that she'll be the next target, Darby goes on the run. She seeks out the help of Washington Herald reporter Gray Grantham. Together, they hope to uncover the truth and expose the guilty parties. A Female Reporter A reporter is a type of journalist who researches and presents information in certain types of mass media. ...

Characters

• Darby Shaw (Julia Roberts) - second year Tulane University law student; author of the brief
• Gray Grantham (Denzel Washington) - reporter for the fictional Washington Herald
• Fletcher Coal (Tony Goldwyn) - White House Chief of Staff; unofficial head of power
• Khamel "Sam" (Stanley Tucci) - international assassin
• Thomas Callahan (Sam Shepard) - Tulane law school professor; romantically involved with Darby Shaw
• Gavin Verheek (John Heard) - lawyer, special council to the FBI director; friend to Thomas Callahan
• F. Denton Voyles (James Sikking) - Director of the FBI
• Bob Gminski (William Atherton) - CIA Director
• The President (Robert Culp) - elected U.S. President whose name is unspecified and is always referred to as "the President"; delegates many administrative duties to Fletcher Coal
• Smith Keene (John Lithgow) - Gray Grantham's boss and Editor of the fictional Washington Herald
• Justice Rosenberg (Hume Cronyn) - eldest, most controversial Supreme Court Justice
• Justice Jensen (Ralph Cosham) - youngest Supreme Court Justice; apparently homosexual
• Charles Morgan (aka Garcia) (Jake Weber) - lawyer informant who helps Darby Shaw.

Julia Fiona Roberts (born October 28, 1967) is an American film actress and former fashion model. ... Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana. ... Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. ... Anthony Howard Goldwyn (born May 20, 1960 in Los Angeles, California) is an American actor. ... The term Chief of Staff can refer to: The White House Chief of Staff, the highest-ranking member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States. ... Stanley Tucci, Jr. ... Sam Shepard (born November 5, 1943) is a unique American artist whose talents have been expressed in many different areas. ... Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana. ... John Heard John Heard (born March 7, 1945 in Washington, DC, USA) is an American actor. ... F.B.I. and FBI redirect here. ... James Barrie Sikking (born March 5, 1934 in Los Angeles, California, USA) is an American actor who is best known for his role as Lt. ... William Atherton (born William Atherton Knight) is an American film actor. ... “CIA” redirects here. ... Robert Martin Culp (born August 16, 1930 in Oakland, California), and a 1947 graduate of Berkeley High School, is an American actor, best known for his work on television. ... John Arthur Lithgow (IPA: [ˈʤɔn ˈlɪθɡaʊ]) (born October 19, 1945) is an American actor perhaps best-known for his starring role as Dick Solomon in the NBC sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The supreme court functions as a court of last resort whose rulings cannot be challenged, in some countries, provinces and states. ... Ralph Cosham is an actor and has a stronger career in voice acting. ... Jake Weber (born March 19, 1964) is a British actor. ...

Trivia

• Victor Mattiece, the main villain, is never seen. This and the entire subplot of his behind-the-scenes machinations are totally absent from the movie,unlike the novel.

External link

• The Pelican Brief at the Internet Movie Database