After running rings around the US Navy in A Few Good Men, Tom Cruise returned to the courtroom for this big-screen adaptation of John Grisham's bestseller. The result is a lavish, star-studded legal thriller, which at times seems as if it is going to last as long as the OJ Simpson trial, but is never less than engrossing. Cruise plays a rising young lawyer who gets a dream job with a prestigious law firm only to discover that it offers more than just legal advice to one particularly sinister client. The ever excellent Gene Hackman is his jaded superior, but, as good as they are, the two stars are outshone by the seemingly never-ending parade of star supporting turns (Holly Hunter, Ed Harris, David Strathairn, Hal Holbrook and an unbilled Goodfellas reprise from Paul Sorvino). Director Sydney Pollack is as proficient as usual and just about manages to sustain the suspense throughout, even though the subject matter is fairly dry.

Mitch McDeere is a young man with a promising future in Law. About to sit his Bar exam, he is approached by 'The Firm' and made an offer he doesn't refuse. Seduced by the money and gifts showered on him, he is totally oblivious to the more sinister side of his company. Then, two Associates are murdered. The FBI contact him, asking him for information and suddenly his life is ruined. He has a choice - work with the FBI, or stay with the Firm. Either way he will lose his life as he knows it. Mitch figures the only way out is to follow his own plan...