The Rainmaker

"They were totally unqualified to try the case of a lifetime... but every underdog has his day."

1997 2h 15m EN

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 1,555

DramaCrimeThriller

Synopsis

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Fresh out of law school and desperate for work, idealistic rookie Rudy Baylor takes on a powerful insurance company accused of denying a dying boy’s claim. Teaming up with a scrappy, unlicensed paralegal, he finds himself in a David-versus-Goliath courtroom battle that tests his ethics, courage, and belief in justice.

“They were totally unqualified to try the case of a lifetime... but every underdog has his day.”

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Cast

Matt Damon
Rudy Baylor
Claire Danes
Kelly Riker
Danny DeVito
Deck Shifflet
Jon Voight
Leo F. Drummond
Mary Kay Place
Dot Black
Dean Stockwell
Judge Harvey Hale
Mickey Rourke
Bruiser Stone
Danny Glover
Richter Tyrone Kipler

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Writers: Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Herr, Brick Mason
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

29 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, shot by John Toll. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Elmer Bernstein. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Barry Malkin shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Matt Damon and Claire Danes and Danny DeVito carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "They were totally unqualified to try the case of a lifetime... but every underdog has his day.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0119978 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Francis Ford Coppola directs. John Toll behind the camera. Elmer Bernstein scores. Barry Malkin cuts. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

129 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, shot by John Toll. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Elmer Bernstein. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Barry Malkin shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Matt Damon and Claire Danes and Danny DeVito carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "They were totally unqualified to try the case of a lifetime... but every underdog has his day.".
7IMDB entry: tt0119978 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 10 themes, including "based on novel or book", "court case", "jurors", "proof".

The technical file

Cinematography: John Toll
Original score: Elmer Bernstein
Editing: Barry Malkin
Production design: Howard Cummings
Costume design: Aggie Guerard Rodgers
Makeup / hair: Lois Burwell
Sound: Mark Berger
Stunt coordinator: Jack Gill
Runtime: 135 min · 2h 15m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $40,000,000
Box office: $45,916,769
Return: 115% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: The Rainmaker (1997)

Awards

National Board of Review: Top Ten Films

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Francis Ford Coppola

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Wuchak2018-07-29
★ 7/10
‘Good lawyer’ is not an oxymoron RELEASED IN 1997 and written & directed by Francis Ford Coppola based on John Grisham’s book, "The Rainmaker" stars Matt Damon as an idealistic newbie lawyer in Memphis who takes on a fraudulent insurance company with Danny DeVito as his paralegal and Claire Danes an abused potential love interest. Jon Voight plays the lead lawyer for the insurance company and Roy Scheider the CEO of the corporation. Beyond Coppola’s renowned expertise, the cast is stellar, which also includes Mickey Rourke as a smooth legal mogul, Virginia Madsen as a witness and Dean Stockwell & Danny Glover as judges. This was Damon’s break out role as a leading man, paving the way for hits like “Good Will Hunting” (1998) and “Saving Private Ryan” (1998). He’s affable as the principled young lawyer and I liked the way the movie discreetly shows his new home life with the elderly lady, plus other budding relationships. This is decidedly a drama with many courtroom scenes, so don’t except the thrills of other Grisham-based films, like the excellent “The Firm” (1993) and action-packed “The Pelican Brief” (1993), although there is an intense action sequence in the second half. While the first half confidently take its time with the drama, throwing in moments of realistic amusement, it segues into a compelling third act. Furthermore, “The Rainmaker” is a must for anyone interested in the good, the bad and the ugly of the legal arena in America. The movie made $46 million domestically from a budget of $40 million (not including revenue from other countries), but it was still considered a disappoint in comparison to “The Firm,” which cost roughly the same amount and made six times as much at the box office. Coppola subsequently took a decade break from directing before reentering the fray with the inscrutable “Youth Without Youth” (2007). THE FILM RUNS 2 hours, 15 minutes and was shot in the Memphis area of Tennessee, as well as Cleveland, Ohio and California (Alameda, Oakland, San Francisco). GRADE: B
RalphRahal2024-12-14
★ 8/10
The Rainmaker is a compelling legal drama that showcases Francis Ford Coppola's return to form after the less successful Jack. Adapted from John Grisham's novel, the film follows Rudy Baylor, a novice attorney portrayed by Matt Damon, as he takes on a powerful insurance company in a wrongful death lawsuit. While the case's outcome may seem predictable, the narrative remains engaging, keeping viewers invested throughout. Matt Damon delivers a strong performance, capturing Rudy's earnestness and determination. 1997 was indeed a significant year for Damon, with Good Will Hunting also releasing, further establishing his presence in Hollywood. The supporting cast, including Danny DeVito as Deck Shifflet and Jon Voight as the opposing attorney, adds depth and nuance to the story. Coppola's direction brings a grounded realism to the film, focusing on the intricacies of the legal process and the moral dilemmas faced by the characters. The courtroom scenes are particularly well-executed, balancing tension and drama effectively. With Coppola's direction and the performances, The Rainmaker is notably one of the better adaptations of Grisham's work. Despite its strengths, The Rainmaker didn't achieve significant box office success, grossing $45.9 million domestically against a $40 million budget. However, it received generally positive reviews. In summary, The Rainmaker is a well-crafted film that combines strong performances with insightful direction, making it a noteworthy entry in Coppola's filmography and a testament to Damon's early talent.