Bruiser
| In 1997, director Francis Ford Coppola’s screenplay adaptation of John Grisham’s best-selling novel, ‘The Rainmaker’ was released in theaters nation-wide. Audiences were pleased with the film as the book. |
Rudy Baylor, ( Matt Damon), is an idealistic young man who has just recently graduated from a second-
rate law school. Eager to finally become a attorney and hungry for work, Rudy takes a job with the
Memphis-based ambulance-chasing law firm of Bruiser Stone, an established and successful lawyer
who doesn’t quite follow the long arm of the law to the letter. Bruiser quickly teams him up with his
main flunky Deck Shiffler (Danny DeVito), a shrewd ex-salesman who works on a hand-to-pocket
basis as Bruiser’s glorified paralegal who makes a career out of failing the bar exam. Rudy is paid no
fee, only on a small percentage commission basis by Bruiser‘s outfit.
rate law school. Eager to finally become a attorney and hungry for work, Rudy takes a job with the
Memphis-based ambulance-chasing law firm of Bruiser Stone, an established and successful lawyer
who doesn’t quite follow the long arm of the law to the letter. Bruiser quickly teams him up with his
main flunky Deck Shiffler (Danny DeVito), a shrewd ex-salesman who works on a hand-to-pocket
basis as Bruiser’s glorified paralegal who makes a career out of failing the bar exam. Rudy is paid no
fee, only on a small percentage commission basis by Bruiser‘s outfit.
In the meantime, while trying to dig up clients, Rudy meets spousal abuse victim, Kelly Riker (Claire
Danes). Soon, he finds himself falling in love with the young battered woman. The young man manages
to convince her to leave her physically violent husband (Andrew Shue). As his relationship with Kelly
takes a dangerous turn and the trial begins to uncover even more fraud, Rudy is forced to decide
between being a good man or being a good lawyer.
Danes). Soon, he finds himself falling in love with the young battered woman. The young man manages
to convince her to leave her physically violent husband (Andrew Shue). As his relationship with Kelly
takes a dangerous turn and the trial begins to uncover even more fraud, Rudy is forced to decide
between being a good man or being a good lawyer.
The charismatic appearance of Mickey Rourke’s is somewhat of a revelation. Rourke plays Bruiser
Stone, the flashy, corrupt attorney with a less than stellar reputation who is quite charming and very
likable. The sharp-dressed, smooth-talking shyster in French-cuffs with a deep-fried southern drawl is
pricelessly comical as well. Keeping a big tank of sharks in his office just for laughs, Bruiser also pushes
limits. He is a sharp-shooting crooked opportunist. Rourke’s portrayal of the tanned, flamboyant
mouthpiece is simply superb.
Stone, the flashy, corrupt attorney with a less than stellar reputation who is quite charming and very
likable. The sharp-dressed, smooth-talking shyster in French-cuffs with a deep-fried southern drawl is
pricelessly comical as well. Keeping a big tank of sharks in his office just for laughs, Bruiser also pushes
limits. He is a sharp-shooting crooked opportunist. Rourke’s portrayal of the tanned, flamboyant
mouthpiece is simply superb.
With various criminal activities in the works, the authorities get wind of his scams and find irregularities
in Bruiser's practice ("jury tampering, money skimming, tax evasion..). Bruiser soon finds himself
being heavily investigated by the Feds, When he learns, they are closing in on him fast, Atty. Stone
quickly pulls a runner.
in Bruiser's practice ("jury tampering, money skimming, tax evasion..). Bruiser soon finds himself
being heavily investigated by the Feds, When he learns, they are closing in on him fast, Atty. Stone
quickly pulls a runner.
Left holding the bag, Rudy and Deck make a quick exit from Bruiser’s lair and are forced to hang out
their own shingle, taking Rudy's three unpromising cases with them. The rookie takes on an insurance
company represented by a group of high-powered lawyers led by John Voight. It’s Rudy’s biggest
case, defending a young man (Johnny Whitworth) dying of leukemia and his mother (Mary Kay Place)
against the insurance company who wrongfully denied their claim and refuses to pay for an operation
that could save his life. Their chances look slim, until they begin to stumble across hidden truths. Rudy
and Deck find their dream team opposing lawyers, led by scoundrel Leo Drummond (Jon Voight), has
bugged their offices and used dirty tactics to win. Rudy cleverly manages to get an undesirable juror
(Randy Travis) removed from the jury. During testimony Rudy uncovers proof that the insurance
company has a practice of denying all claims. Through all the judicial drama, Rudy quickly learns to hate
corporate America.
their own shingle, taking Rudy's three unpromising cases with them. The rookie takes on an insurance
company represented by a group of high-powered lawyers led by John Voight. It’s Rudy’s biggest
case, defending a young man (Johnny Whitworth) dying of leukemia and his mother (Mary Kay Place)
against the insurance company who wrongfully denied their claim and refuses to pay for an operation
that could save his life. Their chances look slim, until they begin to stumble across hidden truths. Rudy
and Deck find their dream team opposing lawyers, led by scoundrel Leo Drummond (Jon Voight), has
bugged their offices and used dirty tactics to win. Rudy cleverly manages to get an undesirable juror
(Randy Travis) removed from the jury. During testimony Rudy uncovers proof that the insurance
company has a practice of denying all claims. Through all the judicial drama, Rudy quickly learns to hate
corporate America.
| Review/Synopsis: K. Thompson |
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