What does it take to realize what is important? "The Firm" showcases Tom Cruise as a butt-kicking lawyer in a precarious situation. Along with Cruise, this film is a star packed vehicle with such heavy weights as Gene Hackman, Ed Harris and Holly Hunter. Adapted from a popular John Grisham thriller, this film packs as much tight twists in it as a Twizzler. What keeps this film from unraveling is the economical and intelligent screen writing headed by the notable David Rabe.
Mitch McDeere (Tom Cruise) is a promising lawyer that just graduated from Harvard law school. He has many offers flooding in from different firms from around the country. The most promising of which comes in the form of a prominent firm in Tennessee. Mitch takes the job and he and his wife Abby (Jeanne Tripplehorn) move. Everything seems too good to be true, and it is. After the death of two associates, Mitch is informed by the FBI that the firm represents the Chicago mafia and no one gets out alive. Mitch is stuck between having to reveal client secrets and getting on the bad side of the mafia or going down with the underhanded dealings of the firm. How does he get of this catch-22 and get his life back?
Figuring out how Cruise is going to get himself out of the seemingly impossible situation is the whole fun of watching the movie. When it seems like Mitch has the answer, another curve is thrown his way and he must fight to stay above it. This movie would probably be just another B-thriller if it wasn't for the great supporting cast that brings colorful characters to the story. The plot is concise and sets up situations that follow through until the end. Things that seem ordinary have great importance as the movie goes on.
Another great thing about this movie is that there are so many connections between the characters that raise the stakes. One such relationship is between Mitch and his brother Ray (David Strathairn) who is in jail. Not only must Mitch consider his own life, but he also makes himself responsible for getting Ray out. As if this wasn't stressful enough, his marriage may be falling apart. As the audience follows Mitch's run from the firm, we also see his struggle with what is important in his life and what road he will choose. ( TCC )