John Grisham's The Rainmaker

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Nashville I. The personality of the film is unfocused and never quite pulls it together…a lot like a traveler with 4 bags, juggling and struggling with them scross the airport. There are a handful of lawyer movie tropes out there, and Rainmaker plays with about 4 of those. As well-produced as the movie is overall you never know what you’re supposed to be getting out of Rainmaker because it plays hopscotch from theme to theme without intention. The ending also felt very incomplete and unusual, as though the writers were confounded and got out quick. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 07/17/25 Full Review Ralph R 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 achieve significant box office success, grossing $45.9 million domestically against a $40 million budget. However, it received generally positive reviews. In summary, The Rainmaker is a well-crafted film that combines strong performances with insightful direction, making it a noteworthy entry in Coppola's filmography and a testament to Damon's early talent. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/22/24 Full Review Rick M A great and profound indictment of [a large portion of] both the legal profession and the insurance industry. Matt Damon is superb as a brand new lawyer who exposes them and puts them in their place: damned to hell. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/02/24 Full Review Mike P (Spoilers) Or " The Drizzle-dropper". Slick, commercial and somewhat phony courtroom melodrama tries to push a "David and Goliath" narrative; (when this multimillion dollar blockbuster production, with it's Murderers Row of A-Listers, and developed from John Grishman's mega-bestseller, is ANYTHING but a struggling Underdog!) The movie has young idealistic Memphis attorney Rudy Baylor (Matt Damon) taking on an Insurance Malpractice case for Donnie Ray Black; a man who was denied coverage from his carrier The Great Benefit Life Insurance Company; and who grew gravely ill and soon developed cancer likely as a result of this...Rudy has ofcourse never argued a case before a judge yet; and yet still, ofcourse, he crushes the evil insurance company with one swift blow. (Beginners luck! So Convenient!). This movie was loved by both critics and the public; but it just seems like a big con job to me; like some ambulance chasing shyster lawyer arguing about "The Twinkie Defense" and "Diminished Capacity" to some captive jury somewhere... Overall: 👎 Not Recommended Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 04/03/24 Full Review Joel H As far as John Grisham film adaptations go, The Rainmaker is pretty good. I don't think it's as thrilling as The Client or The Firm, but it manages to tell a captivating story and offers a few surprises along the way. Matt Damon does a convincing job as the naïve lawyer, and I really like Danny Glover in his role as the judge. However, I feel like Danny DeVito was underutilized. There were a few odd editing choices, too, when I thought we were going to get more from a scene and then it jumped away. And the ending isn't as satisfying as I had hoped. Still, The Rainmaker is a solid courtroom drama. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/10/24 Full Review David W Fans of John Grisham or legal dramas in general will enjoy this story. Francis Ford Coppola's film features a stellar cast that includes Matt Damon in the lead, Danny DeVito as a supporting actor, Jon Voight who does a wonderful job as the rival attorney, in addition to a then-unknown Claire Danes who plays a budding love interest. The amazing cast alone is a reason I would watch this again. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/24/24 Full Review Read all reviews

John Grisham's The Rainmaker

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