The Pelican Brief

Main Plot

"The Pelican Brief," directed by Alan J. Pakula, follows a young law student named Darby Shaw who writes a legal brief speculating on the motives behind the assassinations of two Supreme Court justices. Her theory, dubbed the "Pelican Brief," suggests a connection to a powerful oil tycoon with vested interests in a pending environmental case. When her brief reaches the FBI and the White House, it triggers a series of violent events, putting Darby’s life in grave danger. As she goes on the run, she teams up with an investigative journalist to uncover the truth and expose the conspiracy. Together, they navigate a perilous path filled with political intrigue, corruption, and murder, striving to bring the culprits to justice while staying one step ahead of those who want to silence them. The film is a tense legal thriller that delves into themes of power, greed, and the quest for truth.

Characters

• Julia Roberts plays Darby Shaw, a law student who uncovers a conspiracy, putting her life in danger as she seeks justice.
• Denzel Washington plays Gray Grantham, an investigative journalist who teams up with law student Darby Shaw to uncover a conspiracy involving the assassination of two Supreme Court justices.
• Sam Shepard plays Thomas Callahan, a law professor and romantic interest of the protagonist. His murder propels the main character into a dangerous investigation.

Ending Explained

In the conclusion of "The Pelican Brief," directed by Alan J. Pakula, the protagonist Darby Shaw, a law student, successfully exposes a high-level conspiracy involving the assassination of two Supreme Court justices. Darby had written a legal brief, dubbed the "Pelican Brief," which speculated that the murders were orchestrated to influence court decisions favoring an oil tycoon named Victor Mattiece. Her theory proves accurate, revealing that Mattiece aimed to secure drilling rights in a protected Louisiana marshland. As Darby’s life is endangered due to her discovery, she teams up with investigative journalist Gray Grantham. Together, they gather evidence and secure testimonies that confirm the involvement of Mattiece and several high-ranking government officials. The climax sees Darby and Grantham presenting their findings to the FBI, leading to a nationwide scandal and the eventual downfall of the conspirators. In the final scenes, Darby is seen in a safe location, having been granted a new identity to protect her from any remaining threats. The film closes with a sense of justice served and Darby’s resilience and bravery acknowledged.