The Pelican Brief
A 1992 legal thriller novel by John Grisham, and the 1993 film adaptation starring Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington.
The story follows a law student whose legal brief connecting the assassinations of two Supreme Court justices to an oil tycoon makes her a target.
The title has become shorthand for a document containing dangerous truths that powerful people want suppressed.
- thrillerSuspense-driven narrative genre
- lawyerLicensed legal representative
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
- assassinPaid murderer of targets
- Supreme CourtNation's top tribunal
Grisham · political assassination · Denzel Washington · Julia Roberts · journalist · New Orleans · investigation · on the run · murder · law student · law school · briefcase · FBI · federal agents · cover-up · blown cover · witness · fugitive
- 1993 FilmsJurassic Park, Schindler's List, Mrs. Doubtfire, The Fugitive, Groundhog Day
- 90s BooksHarry Potter, Fight Club, Jurassic Park, The English Patient, Bridget Jones
- Political ThrillersThe Manchurian Candidate, No Way Out, Argo, JFK, Nixon
- Legal Thrillerscourtroom drama, John Grisham, The Firm, Presumed Innocent, murder trial
- Legal Films12 Angry Men, A Few Good Men, The Verdict, To Kill a Mockingbird, Presumed Innocent
The Pelican BriefBridget Jones's Diary
The Notebook · Sleepless in Seattle · Pride and Prejudice · Legally Blonde · Eat Pray Love
The Pelican BriefUlysses
Greek hero, Latinized
Infinite Jest · literary fiction · experimental novel · To the Lighthouse · postmodern fiction
pelican, pelicans, brief, briefs, briefed, briefing, briefings, briefly, briefness