Starring: Matt Damon, Danny DeVito, Claire Danes, Jon Voight, Mary Kay Place Directed By: Francis Ford Coppola Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: DVD Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC Label: Paramount Number of Items: 1 Picture Format: Letterbox Region Code: 1 Release Date: November 17, 1998 Running Time: 135 minutes Theatrical Release Date: November 21, 1997
Product Description: A law student providing legal advice as an internship requirement is faced with an insurance fraud case, which could become one of the most important cases in the history of Tennessee law. Genre: Feature Film-Drama Rating: PG13 Release Date: 20-DEC-2005 Media Type: DVD
Amazon.com essential video: When viewed from a cranky perspective, this by-the-book David vs. Goliath story doesn't offer any surprises, and it's a bit sad to watch director Francis Coppola (who also adapted John Grisham's bestseller) squandering his once-glorious talent on such conventional Hollywood fare. In a more charitable light, however, there's great pleasure to be found in Coppola's intelligent, no-nonsense handling of a plot that's every bit as involving as it is formulaic. Coppola also knows how to bring out the best in a stellar cast, and this is the movie (released in November 1997, just a few weeks before Good Will Hunting) that signaled Matt Damon's arrival as a major-league star. Damon plays Rudy Baylor, a young rookie lawyer in Memphis (location of many Grisham stories) who takes on a powerful insurance company (led by a sharklike lawyer played by Jon Voight) by representing the family of a boy who was denied potentially life-saving treatment for leukemia. Rudy also comes to the rescue of an abused wife (Claire Danes) and learns the tricks of the legal trade from a seasoned paralegal (Danny DeVito), who sees Rudy as his ticket out of the sleazeball practice run by a shady lawyer (Mickey Rourke). There's no mystery about where this plot is going, but Coppola takes us there in high style with a sharp script, and Damon strikes just the right note of naivete and strategic intelligence. When Goliath inevitably falls, this courtroom David wins fair and square. --Jeff Shannon
Amazon.com: When viewed from a cranky perspective, this by-the-book David vs. Goliath story doesn't offer any surprises, and it's a bit sad to watch director Francis Coppola (who also adapted John Grisham's bestseller) squandering his once-glorious talent on such conventional Hollywood fare. In a more charitable light, however, there's great pleasure to be found in Coppola's intelligent, no-nonsense handling of a plot that's every bit as involving as it is formulaic. Coppola also knows how to bring out the best in a stellar cast, and this is the movie (released in November 1997, just a few weeks before Good Will Hunting) that signaled Matt Damon's arrival as a major-league star. Damon plays Rudy Baylor, a young rookie lawyer in Memphis (location of many Grisham stories) who takes on a powerful insurance company (led by a sharklike lawyer played by Jon Voight) by representing the family of a boy who was denied potentially life-saving treatment for leukemia. Rudy also comes to the rescue of an abused wife (Claire Danes) and learns the tricks of the legal trade from a seasoned paralegal (Danny DeVito), who sees Rudy as his ticket out of the sleazeball practice run by a shady lawyer (Mickey Rourke). There's no mystery about where this plot is going, but Coppola takes us there in high style with a sharp script, and Damon strikes just the right note of naivete and strategic intelligence. When Goliath inevitably falls, this courtroom David wins fair and square. --Jeff Shannon
The Rainmaker I enjoy any of John Grisham's books about the underdog fighting high corporations and winning. I usually read the book first and then compare it to the movie. The movie stays with the plot of the book well and the acting is well done. I like the fact that the actors that usually portray the characters in the books are big name actors with a lot of experience in their craft. Their performances are stellar which makes the film even more fun to watch. Even though I have seen this several times I wanted to added to my collection of DVDs.
SOUTHERN FRIED JUSTICE Terrific film featuring Bahstin favorite Damon fluently adapting southern dialect as a novice lawyer, genuinely interested in helping underdog clientele. DeVito is equally effective as a setup man who can't pass the Bar exam, but is a terrific funnel for future clients.The duet forms a legitimate partnership and away we go with Damon simultaneously defending a dying young man against a corrupt insurance company and a young woman, Danes, who finally puts an end to her wife beating husband.With DeVito doing the legwork, our heroes win both cases, too well in fact. The insurance company declares bankruptcy, no one wins a penny.Yet the family of the leukemia victim finds peace of mind in putting a corrupt firm out of business, while Danes and Damon depart together to contemplate their futures; their lives already deeply disillusioned.One point- the film's title may confuse some- this is not "Rainman" with Dustin Hoffman.However, this movie can stand on its own two feet in any weather, thank you.
The Rainmaker Two actors who can play any part and still do a great job. Damon and Devito, great combination. ordering and delivery of DVD Right on the money.
Great Courtroom Drama Yes, there's Coppolla. And Damon. And De Vito. But the performance to watch is Mary Kay Place. Brilliant. She deserved an Oscar nomination.
Great movie A heart warming story of what life can be like. Danny Devito and Matt Damon are excellent.
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