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Matt Damon shines as a naive young Memphis lawyer whose first few cases teach him a great deal about ethics in this well-done adaptation of the John Grisham novel. Damon falls for an abused woman (Claire Danes), helps an elderly widow re-write her will, and -- in the story's central case -- takes on a team of fatcat lawyers (headed by superbly smarmy Jon Voight) representing a crooked insurance company. Director Francis Ford Coppola has assembled a terrific cast, including Danny De Vito, Roy Scheider, and Mary Kay Place, and proves once again that he is a master at getting the best from his actors. If the plot machinations strain credibility at times, the heartfelt performances, brisk pacing, and unexpected comic moments more than make up for it, resulting in one of the more entertaining Grisham adaptations to hit the screen. Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide