First off all, you should always read the book first. I think it is a pretty good adaption. John Grisham fans should not be disappointed by the choice of actors for the parts in the book. Especially Tommy Lee Jones, a personal favorite, plays his part well, and his scenes with Sarandon are the best part of the film. They keep testing each other and have some verbal clashes but in the end you can see Jones' character isn't as bad as he seems and he clearly respects Sarandon's efforts. Only negative comment for this movie is that it never seems to reach the suspense it is aiming for and so it becomes good entertainment for one evening but forgettable soon after.

Standard tale of a kid who inadvertently watched a mob lawyer kill himself. With the mob, the FBI and the media hounding him, a young Brad Renfro turns to Susan Sarandon a rookie lawyer who holds his hand through to the end.

"The Client", another marginal film from the master of the marginal film, is a B flick trying to look like an A flick. Schumacher manages to wrest some second rate performances from an excellent cast and Renfro's debut is no exception. The sweaty Southern noir atmospherics don't work any better than the music which seems always off target in this clumsy film which only squeaks by on the sheer charisma and talent of heavyweights Sarandon and Jones. Barely watchable, eminently forgettable, and for needy couch potatoes only. (C)