They were totally unqualified to try the case of a lifetime... but every underdog has his day.
Fresh out of law school and desperate for work, idealistic rookie Rudy Baylor takes on a powerful insurance company accused of denying a dying boy’s claim. Teaming up with a scrappy, unlicensed paralegal, he finds himself in a David-versus-Goliath courtroom battle that tests his ethics, courage, and belief in justice.
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Character
Classical in form, earnest, contemporary and resolved.
- classical in formformally daring
- earnestironic
- contemporarynostalgic
- resolvedopen-ended
- gravecomic
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“Is Matt Damon the best thing in The Rainmaker?”
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.
- RalphRahalon TMDB · Dec 20248/10
The Rainmaker is a compelling legal drama that showcases Francis Ford Coppola's return to form after the less successful Jack. Adapted from John Grisham's novel, the film follows Rudy Baylor, a novice attorney portrayed by Matt Damon, as he takes on a powerful insurance company in a wrongful death lawsuit. While the case's outcome may seem predictable, the narrative remains engaging, keeping viewers invested throughout. Matt Damon delivers a strong performance, capturing Rudy's earnestness and determination. 1997 was indeed a significant year for Damon, with Good Will Hunting also releasing, further establishing his presence in Hollywood. The supporting cast, including Danny DeVito as Deck Shifflet and Jon Voight as the opposing attorney, adds depth and nuance to the story. Coppola's direction brings a grounded realism to the film, focusing on the intricacies of the legal process and the moral dilemmas faced by the characters. The courtroom scenes are particularly well-executed, balancing tension and drama effectively. With Coppola's direction and the performances, The Rainmaker is notably one of the better adaptations of Grisham's work. Despite its strengths, The Rainmaker didn't
Read the whole review on TMDB - Wuchakon TMDB · Jul 20187/10
‘Good lawyer’ is not an oxymoron RELEASED IN 1997 and written & directed by Francis Ford Coppola based on John Grisham’s book, "The Rainmaker" stars Matt Damon as an idealistic newbie lawyer in Memphis who takes on a fraudulent insurance company with Danny DeVito as his paralegal and Claire Danes an abused potential love interest. Jon Voight plays the lead lawyer for the insurance company and Roy Scheider the CEO of the corporation. Beyond Coppola’s renowned expertise, the cast is stellar, which also includes Mickey Rourke as a smooth legal mogul, Virginia Madsen as a witness and Dean Stockwell & Danny Glover as judges. This was Damon’s break out role as a leading man, paving the way for hits like “Good Will Hunting” (1998) and “Saving Private Ryan” (1998). He’s affable as the principled young lawyer and I liked the way the movie discreetly shows his new home life with the elderly lady, plus other budding relationships. This is decidedly a drama with many courtroom scenes, so don’t except the thrills of other Grisham-based films, like the excellent “The Firm” (1993) and action-packed “The Pelican Brief” (1993), although there is an intense action sequence in the second half. While
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Cast
- Matt DamonRudy Baylor
- Claire DanesKelly Riker
- Danny DeVitoDeck Shifflet
- Jon VoightLeo F. Drummond
- Mary Kay PlaceDot Black
- Dean StockwellJudge Harvey Hale
- Mickey RourkeBruiser Stone
- Danny GloverRichter Tyrone Kipler
- Virginia MadsenJackie Lemancyzk
- Randy TravisBilly Porter
Crew
- Francis Ford CoppolaDirector
- Francis Ford CoppolaScreenplay
- Michael HerrScreenplay
- John GrishamNovel
- John TollDirector of Photography
- Elmer BernsteinOriginal Music Composer
- Barry MalkinEditor
- Fred FuchsProducer
- Michael DouglasProducer
- Steven ReutherProducer
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Pairings
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Bosch: Legacy 202283% alikeTelevision · Both classical in form, earnest, contemporary.
Dr. Romantic 201683% alikeTelevision · Both classical in form, contemporary, earnest.
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