`The Firm’: She yawns; he fawns

EDITOR’S NOTE: Maine Style feature writers Dale McGarrigle and Alicia Anstead continue their occasional series of point/counterpoint movie reviews with “The Firm,” which opened Wednesday.

Dale: The beach book of 1991 has become one of the hot movies of 1993. Those who loved “The Firm” as a book will find the same tension, suspense and endless chases in the film, starring Tom Cruise, Gene Hackman and a cast of thousands in suits.

Alicia: And those who hated the book because of its law-speak slickness will find plenty to yawn about in this 2 1/2-hour film about how Mitch McDeere (Tom Cruise) outwits the Mafia, snubs the FBI and runs into traffic without getting hit. Plus he comes down on the right side of the law. Not even a degree from Harvard Law School can grant this kind of invincibility.

Dale: Sure, improbability runs free in “The Firm,” in both the book and the film. Since when has reality been a requirement in escapist entertainment? Cruise as McDeere portrays convincingly a young law graduate from a poor background who is seduced by a world of wealth and power and finds himself trapped in a nightmare, and who discovers a way to survive against impossible odds. Cruise exhibits considerably less attitude than he has in previous films and is more appealing as a result.

Alicia: Sorry. Not even Cruise’s pretty-boy smile can save this film. Shots of the Memphis nightlife bring some color into a set made up of shades of grey. And the funky jazz soundtrack makes closing your eyes a very tempting way to get through some pretty dull camera work and dialogue. It’s too long, too complicated, and there aren’t any dinosaurs.

Dale: If you could follow the book, you can follow the movie. If not, it’ll take some concentration. The storytelling is pretty straightforward, without many artsy touches. Still a great cast of supporting actors, especially Gene Hackman as McDeere’s mentor and Holly Hunter as McDeere’s helper, makes the book come alive. The main character that suffers in the translation is McDeere’s wife, Abby, played by Jeanne Tripplehorn (“Basic Instinct”) who is much less vital in the movie.

Alicia: “Vital” is not a good word for the women in this film. Sure, Abby knows from the get-go that the all-knowing law firm is bad news, and Hunter’s gutsy character saves the day, but the glory goes to the guys with the guns and gadgets. You can make it high-tech and put it in a glamorous executive setting, but the same old boys-toys plot gets boring very quickly.

Dale: “The Firm” is an all-male club, so naturally it’s not politically correct. Still it is a riveting thriller that crams in an amazing number of characters and subplots. It’s long, but worth it.

Alicia: Lawyers, stupid seriousness and Tom Cruise pointing his fingers at people (Will any director ever cure this guy of hand gestures?) don’t thrill me. Wait for the