Understanding the Plot of the Classic Film “The Pelican Brief”
The Pelican Brief is a 1993 film based on the book of the same name by John Grisham. The film involves a conspiracy to cover up the assassination of two Supreme Court justices. The main character, Darby Shaw, discovers the cause of their deaths and creates a brief that outlines her findings. The title of the brief refers to a hypothetical scenario in which a pelican is killed to stop it from consuming evidence.
Introduction: The Plot
The Pelican Brief is a thriller that follows the story of Darby Shaw, a law student from Tulane University. Darby comes up with a theory behind the assassination of two Supreme Court justices and creates a brief detailing her findings. The brief, named after a pelican, outlines a conspiracy involving many top government officials.
Body: The Conspiracy
Darby Shaw’s theory suggests that a powerful oil tycoon, Victor Mattiece, was behind the assassination of the two justices. He did this to ensure that the Supreme Court wouldn’t interfere with his plan to drill for oil in the Gulf of Mexico, destroying the habitat of several endangered species, including pelicans.
Darby’s brief makes its way to Gray Grantham, a reporter for the Washington Herald, who is looking for a big scoop. Together, they try to unravel the conspiracy and bring the culprits to justice. They face threats to their lives from unidentified assassins who are trying to keep them from revealing the truth.
The two uncover that the conspiracy goes all the way up to the White House, with the President of the United States and his Chief of Staff involved. They discover that the assassins were hired through a private security company with connections to the government.
The climax of the movie takes place when Gray and Darby finally get to the bottom of the conspiracy. They expose the culprits at a press conference and reveal the truth to the whole world. The pelican brief that Darby created played a crucial role in unveiling the conspiracy and bringing the guilty parties to justice.
Conclusion: Lessons Learned
The Pelican Brief is a movie that makes us realize the power of one person’s voice, the ability to bring about change, and the importance of uncovering the truth. The film shows how a single person, with passion, knowledge, and determination, can take on the most powerful group of people and expose them for their misdeeds.
The film also teaches us important lessons about the corrupt nature of power and how ambition can corrupt even the most respected individuals. Above all, it highlights the importance of transparency, accountability, and the fearless pursuit of truth.
