The Rainmaker

Starring: Matt Damon, Danny DeVito, Claire Danes, Jon Voight, Mickey Rourke, Danny Glover, Virginia Madsen, Roy Scheider
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Thriller
1997

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: A rookie lawyer (Matt Damon) finds himself battling the corporate lawyer (Jon Voight) defending an insurance company accused of illegally denying his client of treatment he deserved.

Review:

Tim: Movies based on books by John Grisham are almost always good. This is probably because Grisham is such a talented writer, and his books lend themselves to the movies so easily. This one also has director Francis Ford Coppola (whom some believed was "slumming" it with this typical Hollywood film) and a very impressive cast. These elements all work well together, and we're given a fine, if somewhat predictable, movie.

Matt Damon is quite good in the lead role. In many ways, this was a safe role, because it isn't much different from the myriad other young-lawyer-gets-in-over-his-head performances that have come before it. Damon plays the role just well enough, and it works. Luckily, he also has a heck of a good cast behind him. Danny DeVito is surprisingly good in his supporting role. I really enjoyed his performance. Claire Danes is a bit bland, but generally does good work. Jon Voight is at his sleazy best as a big-time corporate attorney. It was fun to see Voight nominated for a Golden Globe. Danny Glover gives a very enjoyable performance as well. Even Mickey Rourke makes an appearance in this movie. The cast, full of star power, all work very well together.

Most of the movie operates with very little surprise. There is the David v. Goliath case, full of the typical twists you'd expect, with surprise testimony, secrets revealed under oath, bullying from corporate lawyers, and much more in this vein. There is actually very little new here. Still, the movie works well as it tells its story, even if you wish there was something a bit more shiny and new to watch. However, there is something to be said for telling a conventional story, if that story is entertaining and told well. That is exactly how I think about this movie.

The Rainmaker may be a surprisingly straightforward film that gives you exactly what you expect, but that doesn't mean it's not entertaining. Yes, I prefer films that show me something I've never seen before, but that doesn't mean I'll always shun a film simply for telling a good story, even if I've heard that story countless times before. In many ways, The Rainmaker is like an old sweater that sits in your closet-yes, it might not be very exciting or new, but it is dependable and time-tested. There is something to be said for putting it on, knowing exactly how it will feel, and just enjoying the sensation.

*Update- years after watching this movie for the first time, I checked it out again. The movie (and my review) holds up surprisingly well. I had a fun time watching this movie. It's really good. As I stated, it doesn't offer anything really new to the subgenre, but it tells an entertaining story that engages us from start to finish. I enjoyed this movie as much the second time as I did the first.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend:
Runaway Jury, The Client, The Firm, A Time to Kill