I remember when "The Rainmaker" came out in November, 1997, I was thinking a lot about rain saturating soil (here in Portland, we're known for rain). Since this movie is set in the South - where rain saturates the soil all the time - it sort of worked into my thoughts. I had never heard of Matt Damon before the movie came out, but I was quite impressed by his portrayal of a novice lawyer going after an corrupt insurance company. He looks like some teenage nobody, but he knows that he has to build up the will to do what's right. I will say that Danny DeVito came across as a little silly (he has a New York accent in Memphis, and there's the scene in the hospital), but his character makes it worthwhile.
When the trial comes, one can feel every cast member's touch. Aside from Damon and DeVito, there's Jon Voight's menacing stare, Dean Stockwell as the judge, Claire Danes's waiflike touch, Mary Kay Place's sense of the baby boom entering middle age, and even Teresa Wright (in her final role) as the older generation slowly disappearing. All very impressive.
So, this may not be Francis Ford Coppola's best movie ever, but I still recommend it.
When the trial comes, one can feel every cast member's touch. Aside from Damon and DeVito, there's Jon Voight's menacing stare, Dean Stockwell as the judge, Claire Danes's waiflike touch, Mary Kay Place's sense of the baby boom entering middle age, and even Teresa Wright (in her final role) as the older generation slowly disappearing. All very impressive.
So, this may not be Francis Ford Coppola's best movie ever, but I still recommend it.