Synopsis: This smart, fast-paced film offers up the dilemma of a young lawyer whose life is turned upside down when he takes a job at a Southern law firm owned by the mob. Mitch McDeere, having just graduated from Harvard Law, is besieged with offers but takes a job, too good to be true, with a small Memphis firm. He and his wife, Abby, are sucked in by the seemingly close-knit, collegial nature of the firm's partners and the expensive perks that come with the job. His mentor, Avery, teaches him the ropes, but Mitch and Abby begin to sense there's something wrong with this idyllic life. When a couple of associates turn up dead, Mitch begins to investigate the history of the firm; and when the FBI asks him to spy on the firm for them, Mitch realizes his life will never be the same and that, if discovered, he, his wife, and his long-lost brother will be in mortal danger. Mitch must use all his talents as a lawyer to outsmart the firm, the FBI, and the mob in order to reclaim control over his life.

Cast:
Tom Cruise .... Mitch McDeere
Jeanne Tripplehorn .... Abby McDeere
Gene Hackman .... Avery Tolar
Hal Holbrook .... Oliver Lambert
Terry Kinney .... Lamar Quinn
Wilford Brimley .... William Devasher
Ed Harris .... Wayne Tarrance
Holly Hunter .... Tammy Hemphill
David Strathairn .... Ray McDeere
Gary Busey .... Eddie Lomax
Steven Hill .... F. Denton Voyles

Favorite Quotes:
• Ray McDeere: "How'd you land a job like that with a brother in the slammer?" [Long pause. Mitch says nothing] "Don't worry about it. I'd probably have done the same thing."
Mitch McDeere: "You were always there for me, Ray, growing up. All those years after Dad died..."
Ray McDeere: "I'd have done the same thing. You think I want to tell the guys around here that I got a brother at Harvard?"

• Mitch McDeere: "Anything I can do for you?"
Ray McDeere: "Sure. Get me outta here."
Mitch McDeere: "Where to?"
Ray McDeere: "Anywhere I can see a whole lotta sky. I get through the days, I even eat the food. It's amazing how much you miss the sky."

• Tammy: "You're taller than I thought."
Ray McDeere: "That's good to know."
Tammy: "There's been a change of plans."
Ray McDeere: "I didn't know there was a plan."
Tammy: "Well, good, because it's been changed."
Ray McDeere: "Who are you, sweetheart?"

• Tammy: "You got the account number, you know how to access it? Mitch has verified that the money is there, seventy-five thousand dollars."
Ray McDeere: "I love your crooked little mouth."
Tammy: [surprised laugh] "Well, it's not my best feature."
Ray McDeere: "Wow. Well, what is?"

Notes:
• David and co-star Holly Hunter would reteam again in Home For the Holidays.
• The Firm is the second film in which Tom Cruise has the name Mitchell (Top Gun being the first), and it's also the second film in which he has a brother named Ray (Rain Man being the other one.)
• The Firm become the third highest grossing film of 1993 and was, until The Bourne Ultimatum, the highest-grossing film of David's career.
• Holly Hunter was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her work in The Firm. The film also won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Dramatic Film of 1993.

Critical Praise & Commentary:
• "David Strathairn sensitively portrays Mitch's incarcerated brother, Ray." -David N. Butterworth, Movie Reviews

• "Cruise and Tripplehorn are joined by one of the most superb casts in recent memory, including Gene Hackman, Hal Holbrook, Ed Harris, David Strathairn, Holly Hunter, Wilford Brimley, Gary Busey, and Paul Sorvino." -The DVD Journal

• "Willford Brimley is threatening as the Firm's head of security, and David Strathairn is touching as Mitch's jailbird brother, despite being written out of much of the movie." -DVD.Net

• "Other good performances are turned in by Holly Hunter, Jeanne Tripplehorn as Mitch's disgruntled wife, and David Strathairn as Mitch's convict brother." -Matt H., Teen Ink

• "Jean Tripplehorn, Gary Busey, Ed Harris, Hal Holbrook and David Strathairn all turn in notable work." -Chris Hicks, Desert News

Related Links:
Dave Grusin Website (composer) - The Firm (off site)