The Firm

THE FIRM (1993) - Oct. 11, 2010
Though not quite as consistantly compelling as the recent Sydney Pollack film I watched (Three Days of the Condor), this was still a fairly effective thriller about a young man who gets hired at a seemingly ideal law firm, only to slowly discover that sinister things are afoot.  At over two and a half hours, there is absolutely no doubt that the film is longer than it needs to be, and it drags a bit in its first half.  But it's definitely never boring, and once the thriller elements start really kicking in, it's actually fairly thrilling.  It's also well acted (Tom Cruise was good, as was a very sinister Wilford Brimley) and well directed -- I may have to reconsider my opinion on Pollack.  My biggest complaint (aside from the overlength) is that Dave Grusin's jazzy, piano-heavy score can be a bit overbearing at times.  ***