The movie reviews I've gathered on The Pelican Brief

Critic Reviews

• 5 stars - Tilling some of the same conspiracy turf he explored in "All the President's Men," Pakula has improved on Grisham's book by excising much of the detritus, crafting a taut, intelligent thriller that succeeds on almost every level. More on the review - Variety, Brian Lowry
  

• 4 stars - By casting attractive stars in the leads, by finding the right visual look, by underlining the action with brooding, ominously sad music, a good director can create the illusion of meaning even when nothing's there. More on the review - Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert

• 3 1/2 stars - The story, neatly compressed, unfolds in dependable and photogenic ways. And it is coaxed along by Mr. Pakula's considerable skills as a brisk, methodical film maker. More on the review - The New York Times, Janet Maslin

• 2 1/2 stars -The final result is an unnecessarily-long thriller that contains far more talking than action. Pakula's direction is lackluster, showing little of the style that permeated his two most impressive pictures, "All the President's Men" and "Presumed Innocent". - ReelViews, James Berardinelli

• 2 stars - Pakula insists that The Pelican Brief is haute cuisine, and the seriousness nearly wrecks it. More on the review - Entertainment Weekly, Ty Burr

• 1 1/2 stars - A brightly wrapped, ketchup-drenched mush-burger, it slides down the Zeitgeist esophagus like a slippery McPelican. You pay, you swallow, you drive home. You're left with nothing except, possibly, heartburn. More on the review - Washington Post, Desson Thomson

12 Rules of Writing Movie Reviews

[this doesnt have to be in order right?]

1. Get the reader's attention, forsure.


2. Whats the movie even about, in a brief summary.


3. Who is in the movie


4. Who directed the movie


5. Whats the characters' roles


6. Opening when?


7. Where is this movie taking place exactly?


8. What makes this movie interesting


9. Is the movie even worth seeing?


10. Spoilers are not allowed. Especially the ending if its like some huge give away to the movie.


11. Whats your view on the movie.


12. If it is in relation to a book, compare and contrast.