Siskel & Ebert - The Firm

Review of The Firm starring Tom Cruise , Gene Hackman , Jeanne Tripplehorn and Holly Hunter . Directed by Sydney Pollack .

[@frndofbear]

I cannot believe they reviewed The Firm without mentioning the outstanding performances of Holly Hunter and Gary Busey.

[@kdohertygizbur]

Holly Hunter didn't do anything with this role...it was just a performance any actress could have done...wat was brilliant about her performance..what was it that said "Whoa...that performance needs an Oscar "

[@peacemaker6662]

@@kdohertygizbur Don't believe the OP mentioned an Oscar. I would say she did what any VERY GOOD actress COULD have done. She was very believable in the part without overselling it, something very easy to do with a relatively small part. IMHO the acting was nearly flawless from all involved, just a great movie, great performances and fantastic story brought to life.

[@pronkb000]

I mean, this cast is fucking loaded. Cruise, Hackman, Harris, Busey, Hunter, Brimley in a brand new role for him--there's barely enough praise to go around.

[@leob4403]

@@peacemaker6662 no this movie is awful. the plot and characters make no sense at all

[@NemeanLion-]

Busey was very charismatic in this brief role, but I don’t think it was comparable to Hunter’s.

[@COMMANDRofAWESUM]

Always get a kick out of watching these old Siskel and Ebert reviews where they literally describe almost the entire plot of the movie.

[@SparksDrinker]

COMMANDRofAWESUM I'm always surprised with the length of clips they play. Go back to 80's movies and some of the clips last over a minute!

[@CelestialWoodway]

Who cares?

[@thewandering525]

It's because they actually cared about the quality of films and not spoiler-phobic dweebs that weren't grown up yet.

[@trojandarkhorse2022]

@@thewandering525 you can care about the quality of the movie without spoiling it. Just sayin'...

[@thewandering525]

trojandarkhorse Understood. My point was more that, in the past, the entertainment industry didn't bend over backwards for overly sensitive fanboys who live their lives in a state of suspended animation. Probably because that, back then, adults tended to act like actual adults. But oh no, the hoary plot of a pulp novel thriller has been spoiled! Everything is ruined.

[@citygirl5705]

"The Firm" kicked ass. Cruise should have been nominated for best actor (and won). And fuck I miss Siskel and Ebert. How could anyone not like them? Even if you disagree with their opinions at times, they are very entertaining to watch. And Ebert was a brilliant writer.

[@royfr8136]

Im British and 45.... these guys were never on U.K T.V I have only recently discovered them. Good stuff and I love the intro... takes me back to the feeling of the late 80s and 90s.

[@noisepuppet]

3:35 possibly an early instance of the "Tom Cruise sprinting" trope 😂

[@matthewalexanderlemma8000]

John Grisham was such a popular author in the 1990's that several of his books hit the big-screen, and "The Firm" is arguable the best of them all. I'll admit, its been a little while since the last time I saw "The Firm," but if I remember correctly, I considered it to be the strongest of all the John Grisham adaptations.

[@dzanier]

i think you're right.

[@CelestialWoodway]

Every movie feels the same. Always a scene with a lawyer with a briefcase running down the street.

[@corbinmcnabb]

Matthew Alexander Lemma The Firm is quite good. Personal opinion, for what it is worth, I thought the rainmaker was better, but that is not a knock on The Firm

[@brandonscott29]

Runaway Jury was dreadful compared to the book. The Firm was a great movie and book.

[@notlobparrot3057]

Little did Siskel know that Tom Cruise saw this review, and decided that he would put a foot chase into almost every single movie from then on. (I mean, I *assume* that's what happened.)

[@SalamiKing7]

Definitely!

[@dougmaclennan8654]

And you have to don The Tom Cruise Sorint which includes strained face and crazed piston pump of the arms.

[@jamescoppolino9144]

Post-Diabeetus Wilford Brimley deserved a plethora of awards for this.

[@robloxvids2233]

His was the best performance in the film. The way he delivered the line "I get paid to be suspicious when I got nothin' to be suspicious about" alone seems like the cameras weren't even rolling and he was having a real conversation with Gene Hackman.

[@VercumPraeses]

I really miss watching these guys late Sunday nights.

[@dougmaclennan8654]

Love this movie. Totally underrated. Great example of putting your protagonist up in the proverbial tree limb and having antagonists throw rocks at him.

[@dougmaclennan8654]

@Gene Connor Two lower Academy Award noms and zero wins. One nom for Supporting Actress and one mom for Music. Not even nominated for Best Picture or Editing or Adapted Screenplay. Nothing for Hackman or Cruise. So you are wrong and thereby grossly overrate your cutesy pet peeve take on the term “underrated”.

[@dougmaclennan8654]

@Gene Connor To elaborate further on the problems with your original post, the following have nothing to do with overrated/underrated: 1) The Grisham gross. 2) The WW gross. 3) You opining that it’s a “great cast”. 4) And of course Your Academy Award mention proved by point. So thanks. Sorry that you were so traumatized by the Jethro Tell conversation but it is of course irreverent to the matter at hand. Good day to you.

[@shredd5705]

Yes way underrated. Also in IMDb. Because of the complexity I'm fairly sure. It might feel like work to follow what's happening, unless you enjoy that kind of challenge. People who see a long movie like that, and then leave it confused, won't give a good rating

[@Pedrosdanckwardt]

Classic Siskel and Ebert, spoling the essential parts of the plot xD

[@kdohertygizbur]

It's based on the Best Selling Book, what exactly are they giving away

[@johngiles132]

"I get paid to be suspicious when I've got nothing to be suspicious about." Mr. Quaker Oats

[@PotterSpurn1]

"you will tell me, won't you Mitch.....won't you."

[@Hereathome7]

What do you think I am here? A fkn night watchman.

[@DrRiddlez2015]

Tom Cruise had an impressive filmography in the 80's and 90's with starring roles in... Risky Business (1983) Legend (1985) Top Gun (1986) The Color of Money (1986) Rain Man (1988) Born on the 4th of July (1989) A Few Good Men (1992) The Firm (1993) Interview with the Vampire (1994) Mission Impossible (1996) Jerry Maguire (1996) Eyes Wide Shut (1999) Magnolia (1999)

[@MAFion]

The Outsiders. Far and Away. Days of Thunder. Cocktail.

[@peterosesbooky]

Yeah. It’s Tom Cruise

[@jackmonroe5531]

Okay, Tom.

[@lennarthagen3638]

Okey Tom

[@farneyblakeley]

I thought Wilford Brimley was so creepy and frightening in a realistic way

[@jamesjwalsh]

What a stroke of casting-against-type genius to have him play that role.

[@kevaninthe4135]

I don't care much for Tom Cruise films but The Firm is really damn good.

[@defAngel]

The book rocks too. Even though reading isn't what's 'popular' these days. Lol

[@harmonyjones8035]

@@defAngel Ironic that you're writing a comment about reading being unpopular, and the only way for anyone to know about it is to read your comment xD Nice paradox.

[@sevendst19]

Minority Report is very good too.

[@vanmoody]

I disagree. Cruise carries a film. He is a very good actor. But he is a very weird person.

[@alyzu4755]

I'm also not a big fan of his, but this is a great film. With a terrific cast.

[@jeffapellido1959]

After watching a lot of these old reviews, it really seems like Ebert just loves Tom Cruise. But hell, I can't disagree, he's had his share of great movies.

[@meddle903]

what's not to like he's the biggest movie star ever LMAO, Last 50 years for sure

[@dzanier]

being an oddball aside, he's a very good actor.

[@wickedlateok1697]

Most actors start off as action stars before moving into more mature and dramatic careers. Cruise started off in dramatic rules before moving into mindless action.

[@uhdudewhy7980]

He's great in 'American Made'.

[@kdohertygizbur]

He did say in this review he didn't like his last 2 movies ...so disagree

[@deckofcards87]

Back when thrillers were great and Tom Cruise actually liked acting

[@aaronwojhoski2622]

I saw this movie in the theatre when I was a kid and fell asleep. But then watched it as an adult and it's one of my favorites. What a great great great movie

[@leafyutube]

I simply didn't get this movie when it first came out, but now it's one of my favorites.

[@JoeDoakes1015]

Any time a reviewer says a film is "too complicated," I stop caring about the review. If you're not willing to devote your concentration to understanding the film, why should I devote my time to your review?

[@JT_Grogan]

Fantastic film that nobody ever talks about, with an outstanding cast and one of Cruise's most underrated performances.

[@breadfan262]

Underrated?

[@LukeLovesRose]

More proof that Tom is one of the best - if not the best movie star in Hollywood. Hes been punching out classics like this consistently for 40 years. Top Gun Maverick is his latest triumph

[@Jealod24]

I haven’t seen a good foot chase in a film in a long time”... stay tuned for every future Tom cruise film and you’ll find your foot chase...

[@chonconnor6144]

Most of them aren't very good.

[@frigginirishloons]

Gene Hackman is so good

[@mortalclown3812]

Hackman was awesome in this, too.

[@hennagaijin100]

As was Jeanne Triplehorn

[@timothygrant7266]

I hadn't seen this in years, and just watched it on KZbin. It's a very good thriller and Tom Cruise deserved an Oscar nomination.

[@claymac7895]

Can you imagine a time where The Firm and Sleepless in Seattle were the new movies out.. What the fuck happened to film making. When was the last time even a decent movie came out?

[@ItachiUchiha-nj9wx]

Exactly the 90s was a hell of a decade for the two legendary toms

[@NemeanLion-]

I think Pollack did a great job trying to condense the book into a very entertaining movie. It does feel like the plot is a little rushed at times, but it doesn’t sacrifice on quality at all. This film is not only very well directed and suspenseful, it’s also memorable and I’m always eager to watch it whenever it’s on tv.

[@ColKurtzknew]

Casting director was spot on !

[@Angyali]

Siskel & Ebert - The Film

[@WilliamEMorgan]

Who else is here reminiscing about the 90s during COVID-19 quarantine?! Lol

[@masmas6463]

good act guys love your reviews

[@lauraroberts6533]

I love this movie so much!The only thing all these yrs later is the 90s constant background music is so loud and annoying!!!Great actors!👍👍👍👍

[@JackBurton.]

Laura Roberts 2019 October review... review Wow.. Yep Good movie!

[@KeithNashRealtor]

Loved the film. Watched many many times. The music and the story. “ I just love your crooked little smile” The wife character to me was beautiful.

[@jonathanfunnell4167]

EXCELLENT FILM A+!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@wcs494]

The movie is very good. The book is even better.

[@perrymehta6438]

My favorite john grisham movie and one of my favorite movies in general. I like the show but the movie is better

[@Boygonebad]

Great cast.

[@BelatedCommiseration]

You know...I wonder if Wilfred Brimley ever regretted doing that Quaker oats commercial? I mean he was great in The Firm...just re-watched it recently...and he does come across very well as a menacing 'heavy' sort of presence which goes against his general type of role...but even after admitting that he was great, Gene still can't help but undermine him by throwing in the Quaker oats stuff and Ebert just giggling along...not that I am a Wilfred Brimley uber-fan...but its just that sort of thing which contributes towards legitimately good actors get typecast doing only one sort of role...same thing happened with Dean Norris (who I was surprised is actually in The Firm film too as a heavy working for Brimley!) before Breaking Bad came along and then he sort of 'broke' his type by embracing it completely all the way to the other side!

[@jerichobeach2967]

This film is amazing and has a jfk 90 feel and darkness to it.

[@novaknadal3204]

I miss these legal thrillers so much.

[@AGoat1971]

Different ending in this movie to the vastly superior book. In the book he screws everyone, in this movie there was a nice wrapped up ending.

[@kdohertygizbur]

Yeah, he's not selling Oatmeal There Gene Siskels best line

[@luisvaldes1568]

One of flew Cruise movie's I watch and would watch again. The other is Eyes Wide Shut.

[@Grandizer8989]

Wilford Brimley was the grandfather everyone needed.

[@basham21]

thxs for posting

[@nongthip]

Question: Does this movie contain a Tom Cruise arm-pumping frantic running scene? Wilford Brimley: Watch Clark...and watch him close, you hear me?

[@janellekirkland3023]

Great movie !!! Very suspenseful I liked it a lot it was sexy and exciting 😎

[@cliffslatterly2893]

Oatmeal? Lol. Siskel is hilarious.

[@UKSportsFan]

+Cliff Slatterly ...Yep, oatmeal. Wilford Brimley was the spokesperson for Quaker Oatmeal throughout the 80's. Google Wilford Brimley Quaker Oatmeal to see what he's talking about.

[@christianhafer7743]

Now he does diabetes.

[@dreamquesttv]

Christian Hafer beetus

[@bigsteve8921]

Gene didn't like point break and that had a great foot chase lol

[@RecoveringGenius]

I always felt that Leonard Maltin was the Pro and these two Yahoo's were just all show. They always seem too negative, well at least the Siskel does. Now, I have not met these two in person, but I did meet Leonard Maltin in the VIP room at an event and we just sat and talked about Nicholas Cage movies alone for 45 minutes... Mostly about the subtle genius of the Weather Man LOL

[@noisepuppet]

All star cast. I saw this in first run and read the novel. I never bought the idea of top level organized crime recruiting talent in this way, although it may have been more plausible as presented in the book. It just seems awfully dumb, you know, let's hire this brilliant ambitious energetic young guy on false pretenses and try to bully him into submission. Meanwhile we've put him in position to do a lot of damage to us, but he won't betray us, because we threatened his family. WTH, why not hire young lawyers who have some family connection to you, who WANT to be crooked, have them prove their loyalty by compromising themselves immediately, and only tell them as much as they absolutely need to know. Make sure to feed them some false info and see if they're leaking it. Jeez! 😂 Anyway, good enough movie.

[@mikeberry2332]

This was a movie that succeeded because everything single supporting actor did a fantastic job. The two leads were fine, but there was a lack of chemistry there, in my view.

[@LukeLovesRose]

Far and Away is an underrated classic. Shut up, Ebert.

[@tammymism]

If you are wondering what is in the envelope the security chief gives Mitch, it's a picture of a man with a bucket on his head.

[@MrAitraining]

I Hate to be one of these people but the book way better than the movie.

[@paulcanis6297]

woah. when you get compared to a young Paul Newman..... But this is a fine film, a perfect Cruise vehicle. HOWEVER. No mention of Gene Hackman is criminal. Hackman, Cruise and (in a radical career shift) Brimley forge a truly creepy corporate thriller. But they really needed to mention Gene. he played a self-doomed char from go. And that is exactly how he ended up.

[@jackmonroe5531]

"Haven't seen a good footchase in quite some time"?!?! "Point Break" came out 2 years earlier! C'mon, Siskel!

[@belair344]

RIP

[@henryhill6637]

Brilliant film

[@cupcakes7015]

Henry Hill Right 😃😃😃 10/19/19

[@pvthitch]

Memphis!

[@Tom_theBaptist]

“To believe in God is to know that all the rules will be fair, and that there will be wonderful surprises.” - Ugo Betti

[@bobwoods1302]

Great movie

[@Grandizer8989]

Far and Away actually was quite entertaining… but proof that American actors should never play Irish/Scottish/British actors. Right, Brad Pitt?

[@Tristan_again]

What about the broken beer bottle?!

[@dianawolf894]

Super movie

[@NostalgiNorden]

I think they showed the whole movie right there...

[@SnowMan68]

To me this was a horrible movie boring and hard to follow!! Even a fantastic cast that was in this movie for me couldn't save it!! I didn't go into this movie expecting a lot and my experience I didn't receive a lot from it!!

[@lincolnmaceachern2410]

I liked this movie, but I liked the ending in the book better. The meeting with the mobsters in the hotel was a little farfetched.

[@rmurphy440m]

Brimley: "Eat your oatmeal...bitch"

[@meisterlymanu5214]

Harvey Spector would have taken the mafia down, not cut a deal...

[@keithschofield1158]

This movie is confusing it moves to fast

[@williamwalsh1533]

Can't imagine Wilford Brimley asva bad guy.

[@claudec2588]

If you look at every excellent movie that Tom Cruise has been in there is always an excellent supporting cast. The problem I have with Tom Cruise is when the producers of a movie think all they need is Tom Cruise and there is a predictable story and no supporting cast. Since Tom Cruise is often a producer on his own movies, he deserves much of the blame. He's an excellent actor who has fallen for his own publicity and thinks he can "phone it in". Wasted talent.

[@freddyfurrah3789]

Never have seen it, but I'll buy it.

[@allyxvolta4040]

Dahbetis.

[@jamesjwalsh]

I didn't read the book and I understand plot changes were made, but the mob guys appearance seems awkward and farfetched. Like they were too stupid to know they were being robbed blind by the firm until Cruise informs them.

[@harmonyjones8035]

Wow, whatever happened to Siskel and Ebert? 🤔

[@anunusualironiccircumstanc2246]

Harmony Jones I hope this isn’t a distasteful joke...

[@harmonyjones8035]

@@anunusualironiccircumstanc2246 I suppose they're pretty old right now.

[@anunusualironiccircumstanc2246]

Harmony Jones douchebag.

[@jamesjwalsh]

@@harmonyjones8035 They're six feet under, sweetie.

[@bigsteve8921]

Tom cruise has a foot chase every movie lol

[@jeffreyrichardson]

angies sons bedding clifton mckinley redden baileys hair shedding

[@TheScottBowmer]

It was completely lame that Sydney Pollack changed the ending from the book.

[@HoldenNY22]

I read the Book and saw the Movie a number of Years ago. I believe I saw the Film first. The Film defintely has a different ending than the Book. If I remember, the last quarter of the Film is different than the Book. I think the ending of the Film where they are not on the Run from the FBI (and Probably Mob as well) is interesting, if not Ingenious. I think they are both good endings= the Ending in the Book and the Ending in the Movie.

[@jeffreyrichardson]

sipositos known aqueous film forming foam sharons hearth loved home

[@HighRollersLounge]

A lot of praise for this movie in this comment section. Good for you, people, but for me this was a really boring movie with painfully obvious plot

[@WilliamEMorgan]

Painfully obvious plot? You must be a genius. What Academy Award winning films have you produced?!

[@pts5217]

Love this movie, but the foot chase scene was so clunky and shoehorned in...Abby slowly lumbers out of the house, so Mitch chases after her (for some apparent reason) at FULL SPEED then takes almost a full block to catch up to her. Plus, the plan to setup Mitch by getting pictures of him hooking up with a girl was too far fetched considering Mitch’s relationship with his wife, and came together far too easily. Otherwise, it’s a very entertaining movie

[@jeffreyrichardson]

mrs kruegars class fifth grade brothers late for mass mahlerts stop for gas

[@jeffreyrichardson]

cancer is a bitch jody seven gets the itch katies kitchen witch

[@dr.roberts4508]

I didn't like it

[@kellygreen5556]

The firm, can't be talking about Ebert's current jawline!

[@Dottiecurran]

FIRM sure isn't about Ebert's mouth before it totally rotted out

[@DS-wk1kn]

Ha ha, mouth cancer! So hilarious!..... Idiot.

[@MikeDarnell-u1b]

The book was waaaayyyy better!

[@TimSPC]

This movie is insanely watchable. I love the cast. Hackman, Brimley, Busey, Strathairn, Harris, Hal Holbrook. Great stuff.

[@dreamquesttv]

TimSPC Also, Ed Harris' partner is Paul Cauldron (Pulp Fiction)....and at 2:29? Damn Jigsaw from Saw!

[@bobthebear1246]

Frank Sadat Good catch!!

[@rick2340atyahoocom]

It’s better than the book

[@johnobrien1528]

Holly Hunter has won an Oscar, Tobin Bell and Jeanne Tripplehorn lensed to an A+ supporting cast

[@amjoshuaf]

I loved Wilford Brimly in this movie.

[@SN2903]

Great movie

[@wolverineiscool7161]

I fucking loved the film, i didnt even notice the time fly past even once, it felt like it got over too soon because it was THAT interesting, tom cruise did a stellar job in the acting department, absolutely nailed it, everybody knew what they were doing, all of the actors were spot on in their respective roles, overall a very perfect movie, kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time

[@shredd5705]

Yes great film. I think it's way underrated in IMDb. Maybe because of the complexity, most people wouldn't be able to "pass a test" as Ebert put it. Especially people who are not familiar with American laws. I had to watch it at least twice to appreciate it

[@robertslydell6990]

Brimley protected the firm in spite of his dieabeetus.

[@vanmoody]

He had to come back from the alien planet with some old people to get it done.

[@grungepants]

Go back to wallstreet Gordan Gecko.

[@willcwhite]

can't remember the last time I heard the words "sharper image catalog"

[@tigerjonn]

good movie, but the book is too awesome.

[@HoldenNY22]

I read the Book also after seeing the Movie. Different ending in the Book. I thought the Movie may have had a more Interesting Ending. Also, if I remember the book, the Gene Hackman character has a much smaller role in the Book and didn't have the Heroic ending he had in the Movie.

[@localcrew]

"Heartache, Mitch..." And look who's watching them. It's "Jigsaw" from "Saw"! Now THAT'S creepy! Plus the whole "Oatmeal" and "Diabetes" thing. That's creepy too.

[@rl1800]

Wilford's daily to do list: eat oatmeal, manage diabeetus, blackmail lawyers

[@breadfan262]

Se7en had a good foot chase. I think that cane after this tho.

[@adisharr]

Far and Away was a mistake? That film was fucking fantastic. Sorry Ebert, you're way off on that one.

[@fatmancomics]

The ending ruins the movie. Interesting that they didn't like Far and Away. They reveal too much in their reviews. That's why I stopped watching them back then.