The Client

UK Release Date. 21 October 1994

Certification. 15

Running Time. 1 hour 59 mins

Director. Joel Schumacher
Cast. Anthony Edwards, Tommy Lee Jones, Anthony LaPaglia, Brad Renfro, Susan Sarandon, J.T. Walsh, Bradley Whitford.
Rating. 49%

Review.

It seemed that at some point in the early 1990s film executives stumbled across the literary work of John Grisham. A raft of film adaptations quickly followed suit - The Firm (1993), The Pelican Brief (1994), A Time To Kill (1996), The Chamber (1996) and The Rainmaker (1997). The Client was one of the earlier adaptations, released in the UK on 21 October 1994.

In The Client, 11-year-old Mark Sway (Brad Renfro) garners vital information about a US Senator's disappearance and potential murder. Pursued by the FBI, Sway is perhaps understandably suspicious of anyone in authority and seeks the assistance of a lawyer, Reggie Love (Susan Sarandon).

Susan Sarandon gives one of the best performances of her illustrious career as the strong-willed lawyer attempting to gain the trust of her young client. Sarandon was deservedly nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of the dogged lawyer. However, whilst Sarandon excels, the film's young star, Brad Renfro falters. His one-dimensional portrayal of trailer trash offspring is hackneyed, inauthentic and, above all, aggravating.