John Grisham's novel comes to life in Francis Ford Coppola's courtroom drama pitting the little guy against a large corporation. Rudy Baylor (Matt Damon), an inexperienced Memphis lawyer, and his legal sidekick, Deck Schifflet (Danny DeVito), defend a leukemia victim against an insurance company and its hotshot lawyer Leo Drummond (Jon Voight). Along the way Rudy befriends an abused woman (Claire Danes), helping her escape her husband (Andrew Shue). The courtroom scenes between Damon and Voight are the highlight of this legal yarn as Rudy learns the tough price of being a good lawyer.

John Grisham's THE RAINMAKER is adapted to film in this suspenseful retelling by Francis Ford Coppola. In Memphis, struggling young attorney Rudy Baylor (Matt Damon) joins a shady law firm headed by Bruiser Stone (Mickey Rourke). After the firm comes under investigation, Rudy and fellow employee Deck Schifflet (Danny DeVito) start their own practice. While trying to dig up clients, Rudy meets a young spousal abuse victim, Kelly Riker (Claire Danes), and convinces her to leave her husband (Andrew Shue). But Rudy's biggest case is defending a young man (Johnny Whitworth) dying of leukemia and his mother (Mary Kay Place) against the insurance company who wrongfully denied their claim. Rudy and Deck find that their opposing lawyers, led by Leo Drummond (Jon Voight), have bugged their offices. Despite his inexperience, Rudy cleverly manages to get an undesirable juror (musician Randy Travis in a cameo role) removed from the jury. During testimony Rudy uncovers proof that the insurance company has a practice of denying all claims. As his relationship with Kelly takes a dangerous turn and the trial uncovers more insurance fraud, it seems Rudy must decide between being a good man or being a good lawyer.

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen - 2.40
Audio:
5.1 Dolby Digital Surround - English, French
2.0 Surround Dolby Digital Surround - English, French
Subtitles - English, French, Portuguese, Spanish

Matt Damon: American actor, screenwriter, GOOD WILL HUNTING (1997)
Danny DeVito: American Actor/Director, HOFFA (1992)
Claire Danes: American Actress, LITTLE WOMEN (1994)
Jon Voight: American Actor
Mary Kay Place: American actress, MARY HARTMAN, MARY HARTMAN
Dean Stockwell: American Actor
Teresa Wright: Oscar winning American actress, MRS. MINIVER
Virginia Madsen: American Actress
Mickey Rourke: American actor, 9 1/2 WEEKS
Andrew Shue: American Actor, MELROSE PLACE
Red West: Actor
Johnny Whitworth: American Actor
Wayne Emmons: 
Adrian Roberts: 
Roy Scheider: American actor, JAWS, ALL THAT JAZZ, THE FRENCH CONNECTION
Randy Travis: American C&W Singer
Michael Girardin: 
Randall King: 
Justin Ashforth: 
Michael Keys Hall: 
Danny Glover: American actor

Francis Ford Coppola: American Director, THE GODFATHER SAGA

Steven Reuther: 

Francis Ford Coppola: American Director, THE GODFATHER SAGA

Elmer Bernstein: Composer, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON (1981)

Barry Malkin: Editor

"...The film's visual solemnity is undercut by a healthy streak of cynicism, and at times -- a rare thing for Coppola -- it's even funny?"
"...[Voight] steals the show...with one of the most enjoyable performances of his career..."
"...A parade of colorful performances from a constantly surprising cast....Mr. Coppola's best and sharpest film in years..."
"...[Coppola] has made the most of Grisham's ground-level realism....DeVito's role is in the fading tradition of the star character actor..."
4 stars out of 5 -- "Razor sharp, with some great performances, this is as entertaining as it is intelligent."