# Rainmaker, The (1997)

### reviewed by
Luke Buckmaster

    THE RAIN MAKER

    Review by Luke Buckmaster

After many exciting court thrillers, it comes as somewhat of a surprise that The Rain Maker is a tame yet well acted drama. John Grisham and director Francis Ford Coppola have been careful not to throw in more than its simplistic plot can handle, and although The RainMaker is not as spectacular as A Time to Kill or The Pelican Brief, its a much more complete film in many regards.

Rising Hollywood star Matt Damon plays Rudy Baylor, an inexperienced young lawyer who teams up with Deck Shifflet (Danny DeVito) to bring a shoddy insurance company to justice. Along the way he encounters problems with staying financially secure, protecting a troubled friend from her violent husband and becoming recognized in a town swamped with money hungry lawyers.

After being employed by known sleaze Bruiser Stone (Mickey Rourke), Rudy and Deck quit their job and start small law firm of their own. Rudy soon finds himself relying on a solitary court case to get them through the threat of bankruptcy, and battles high-class lawyer Leo F. Drummond (Jon Voight) to fight for what is morally correct.

With a mixed cast of young and old Hollywood players, it comes as a disappointment that no real climax ever eventuates; and although this well acted drama is of fine tune and taste this alone is not enough to make it a great film. A worth while watch, yes, and although nothing here is ground making material, The RainMaker has enough substance and interest to make it a successful court drama.

    3 stars out of 5
    Finely crafted and well acted court drama

Movie Zone: http://moviezone.alphalink.com.au bucky@alphalink.com.au

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