John Grisham’s 1995 classic, The Rainmaker, received its time-trusted adaptation from Francis Ford Coppola in 1997. Two decades later, the network has decided to update the series for a new era of viewers. While staying true to its cynical and frustrating portrayal of the law profession, this version seems to have taken a step back.
Set in Charleston, South Carolina, Rudy Baylor (Milo Callaghan) is an ambitious lawyer who joins his privileged girlfriend’s family firm but gets fired on his first day due to their high-society values. He lands a job at a dingy law office where he works with Bruiser Stone (Lana Parrilla), an unprincipled but fair attorney, and Deck Shifflet (P.J. Byrne).
The series brings the story to a close within five episodes, denying it any real substance by turning institutional corruption into a specific, contained crime. This approach gives the show its most Suits-like tone and fails to touch upon real issues that led Grisham’s original novel to be so impactful. The characters’ performances shine in particular with John Slattery delivering an excellent portrayal of Leo Drummond, his character is well played, while Parrilla steals scenes as Bruiser Stone.
Despite featuring a talented cast, the show’s greatest strength lies in its lighthearted tone and smooth soundtrack. But given the amount of malfeasance that unfolds within its fictional universe, it would be better served with more weight to tackle these themes.
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/the-rainmaker-review-usa-john-grisham-john-slattery-1236340453