THE RAINMAKER

After recently watching three Grisham adaptations that were all somewhat overwrought and divorced from reality, this Francis Ford Coppola miniature was a great palate cleanser. 

It’s a low-key, rather old-fashioned film which takes its time so as to allow us to get emotionally invested in the characters. 

The main story is a David v Goliath set-up, in which novice lawyer Matt Damon takes on a big insurance company, represented in court by Jon Voight, who refuse to pay out in respect of a guy in his early twenties who dies of leukaemia during the course of the film.

There is also an affecting sub-plot in which Damon becomes involved with a young woman, played wonderfully well by a very young Claire Danes, who has an abusive husband.

Another standout performance is that of Mary Kay Place as the bereaved mother. 

There is also the bonus of Danny Devito, as a para-legal who has failed the law exam several times.  He adds some humour to what otherwise might be an overly sombre film but not so as to derail the main drama.

 

And in a small role, Teresa Wright, a very successful actor from the 1940s, plays a well-off widow who takes a grandmotherly interest in Damon.

Sure, the story told here is not especially original but the director and cast respect the material in a way that left me for one satisfied.

RATING: ✓ If You've Nothing Better To Do