"You don't look like you could save a turkey from Thanksgiving."      

THE CHAMBER (R) 

Is somebody in Hollywood determined to make a movie out of every John Grisham novel?  The Chamber is the FIFTH Grisham novel adapted to the silver screen, the first four being The Firm, The Pelican Brief, The Client, and A Time To Kill.  This time Chris O'Donnell gets to be the young, upstart lawyer as he plays Adam Hall, an attorney out to save his racist grandfather Sam Cayhall (played by Gene Hackman) from Death Row.  The trouble is, Cayhall is guilty as sin, he's had just about every appeal denied, and he's scheduled to be executed in the gas chamber in a mere twenty-eight days.

The dramatic elements found in previous Grisham adaptions are also to be found in The Chamber. The desperate search for truth, people who are in over their heads, and a sense of impending doom are all elements of this film, and for those who like this type of drama, then stop reading NOW and go watch this movie!  Gene Hackman is excellent in his portrayal of a bitter, angry old man who has grown to hate the world, with a performance that at different points elicits anger, disgust, pity, and ultimately compassion for his character.  Chris O'Donnell also handles his role fairly well, though at times he seems a bit overshadowed by either Hackman or the role itself.  Even so, The Chamber stands as a well-made piece of drama, and though its social message against racism is laid down a bit heavily, it's a movie that's well worth considering the next time you've got a couple of hours to spare.

IMPRESSIONS

Sports fans: Remember Bo Jackson?  He's got a role in this movie...not a HUGE role mind you, but a role.

Responses from cyberspace...thanks for writing!

lamarepsaj@worldnet.att.net gives this movie  stars: "very good actors....would like to read the book now" (1/10/99)

Jenn K. gives this movie  stars: "I felt that the movie was pretty strong...at some points a little slow, they say movies are always better in books, I think this proves it once again, but it wasn't a bad movie, I enjoyed it fully, although maybe not as much as the book I'm give it 4 stars." (10/18/98)

Nick Pucel gives this movie  star: "The Movie was totally bla, and it barly follows the book." (10/15/98)