The Client [Blu-ray]

Director: Joel Schumacher Joel Schumacher

Overview

A sterling cast headed by Oscar-nominated Susan Sarandon makes this slick thriller one of the better adaptations of a John Grisham bestseller. Mark Sway (Brad Renfro) witnesses the suicide of a Mafia lawyer, who confesses that the Mob was behind the murder of a U.S. senator. Mark's brother is traumatized into a coma by the incident; gangster Barry Muldano (Anthony LaPaglia) is soon on Mark's trail, and in desperation, he arrives at the office of recovering alcoholic lawyer Reggie Love (Sarandon). With the Mob after them, and a ruthless federal attorney (Tommy Lee Jones) trying to force Mark to reveal what he knows, Love battles to guarantee the safety of her client and his family. The relationship between Reggie Love and Mark Sway is the center of the film, adding considerable character development to plot's routine elements. Director Joel Schumacher helmed another Grisham adaptation, A Time To Kill, in 1996.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/06/2012
UPC:	0883929248407
Original Release:	1994
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	Warner Home Video
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	2:01:00
Sales rank:	19,113

Special Features

1995 TV pilot The Client Theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Susan Sarandon	Regina "Reggie" Love
Brad Renfro	Mark Sway,Actor
Tommy Lee Jones	Révérend Roy Foltrigg
Mary-Louise Parker	Dianne Sway,Actor
Anthony LaPaglia	Barry
J.T. Walsh	Jason McThune
Anthony Edwards	Clint Von Hooser
Bradley Whitford	Thomas Fink
Will Patton	Sergent Hardy
Anthony Heald	Trumann
Kim Coates	Paul Gronke
Kimberly Scott	Doreen
David Speck	Ricky Sway
William H. Macy	Dr. Greenway
Ossie Davis	Judge Harry Roosevelt
Micole Mercurio	Momma Love
William Sanderson	Wally Boxx
Walter Olkewicz	Romey Clifford
Amy Hathaway	Karen
Jo Harvey Allen	Claudette
Ron Dean	Johnny Sulari
William Richert	Harry Bono
Will Zahrn	Gill Beale
Mark Cabus	Detective Nassar
Dan Castellaneta	Slick Moeller
John Diehl	Jack Nance
Tom Kagy	Patient in Wheelchair
Alex Coleman	Newscaster
Linn Beck Sitler	Newscaster,Newscaster
Stephanie Weaver	Newscaster
Todd Demers	Newscaster
Ashtyn Tyler	Amber
Ruby Wilson	Receptionist
Andy Stahl	Agent Scherff
Ronnie Landry	Waiter at Antoine's
Jeffrey Ford	Bailiff,Bailiff
Macon McCalman	Ballatine
Michael Detroit	Jail Medic
John Fink	Lieutenant
Mimmye Goode	Night Nurse
Robert Hatchett	Paramedic
Connye Florance	Telda
Sandra Bray	Reporter
Yvonne Sanders	Reporter,Officer
Norm Woodel	Reporter
Karen Walker	Reporter
Rebecca Jernigan	Emergency Nurse
Tommy Cresswell	3rd FBI Agent
Nat Robinson	Special Agent Boch
Mary McCusker	Pretty Girl
Bettina Rose	Woman at Desire
Joey Hadley	Officer
Angelo R. Sales	Orderly
Christopher Gray	Security Guard
Jesse L. Dunlap	Security Guard
Joe Kent	Elvis Impersonator
Robbie Billings	Ballentine's Wife
John Mason	Musician
Robert H. Williams	Musician
Darrel D. Johnson	Musician
Mark Pyles	Helicopter Pilot
Clay Lacy	Jet Pilot
Gerry Loew	Pizza Man
Anthony C. Hall	Pizza Man
George Klein	Announcer
Ray Holland	Romey Clifford/Romey
Mali Finn	Actor
Howard Shore	Composer

Technical Credits

Akiva Goldsman

Robert Getchell

John Grisham

Joel Schumacher	Director
Akiva Goldsman	Screenwriter
Robert Getchell	Screenwriter
Rick Barker	Stunts
Mali Finn	Casting
Glory Fioramonti	Stunts
Larry Fioritto	Special Effects
Wes Mattox	Special Effects
Arnon Milchan	Producer
Steven Reuther	Producer
John Grisham	Screenwriter
Mary McLaglen	Producer
Charles L. Campbell	Sound Effects
Larry Carow	Sound Effects
Jerry Edemann	Sound Effects,Sound Effects
Carl Fischer	Sound Effects
Guy Ferland	Producer
Steve Wolf	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

The Client, against all logic, combined a number of dubious plot elements into a fairly entertaining thriller. The mid-'90s ushered in a glut of John Grisham adaptations that were at best guiltily entertaining (The Pelican Brief) and at worst deathly dull (The Chamber). The Client falls firmly into the former category, thanks in large part to a great cast and the straightforward direction of Joel Schumacher. When not trying too hard (Falling Down) or barely trying at all (Batman & Robin), Schumacher can keep a story moving along nicely. He's in fine form here, leading a cast in which even the minor roles are filled out by terrific actors. Similarly, the best Grisham-inspired films seem to be those with the least ambition. Without the capital punishment hand-wringing of The Chamber or the superficial racial politics of A Time to Kill (also directed by Schumacher), The Client counts as a minor but decided success. Susan Sarandon even manages to carve out a highly memorable role, playing a character whose difficult past informs her every choice. It may be more than the film needs, but it's a welcome contribution nonetheless.

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