Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Certainly not a cheerful movie or the best of Grisham adaptations, The Chamber still has some merits. Chris O'Donnell looks a lot like Matt Damon (who ended up stealing his thunder) and plays Adam Hall, the lawyer grandson of Cayhall, a racist, convicted murder, waiting for his execution in a Mississippi jail. Hackman plays Sam Cayhall, gran-dad in death row with not a soft bone in his old body - or has he?Hackman's interpretation is amazingly good. His Cayhall is an ignorant brute who lost his youth and family to the demented ideas of the KKK and now feels betrayed by his ancient friends, but still reluctant to let go of his foolish beliefs. Cayhall is truly a tragic figure, an ignorant man, manipulated for purposes he was too stupid to understand and sacrificed by more powerful players. One cannot avoid feeling repelled, yet sorry for him.Dunaway is Lee, Cayhal's alcoholic daughter and - obviously - Adam's aunt. The main problem is that Dunaway was too old for the part. She does a decent job and has a heartbreaking goodbye scene with Hackman - really well acted and not fake or manipulative. However, she is only 11 years younger than Hackman and she was not believable as his daughter. I guess somebody like Patricia Clarkson or Susan Sarandon would have been a better choice.Anyway, for once I think that the 6 in IMDb is a fair vote. The story is too depressing, O'Donnell does not carry enough weight for such a difficult part, Dunaway was too old and the script is very uninspired. To be seen mainly for Hackman's amazing interpretation.

The Chamber (1996): Dir: James Foley / Cast: Chris O'Donnell, Gene Hackman, Faye Dunaway, Robert Prosky, Raymond J. Barry: Title suggests past torments locked away. Chris O'Donnell plays an attorney whose grandfather is on death row for blowing up a building killing several children. He has 28 days to prove that his grandfather wasn't alone. Faye Dunaway appears as the victim's daughter who reflects upon her father's racial past. After the sentence, the attorney's father leaves behind a suicide note. While not the most pleasant film to engage in, director James Foley does a fine job at creating tension. O'Donnell carries himself well as the lead, who learns much about his family past as well as lure out the guilty. It is obvious that he will accomplish what he came for but the ending regarding his grandfather, particularly the nod by a black inmate seems contrived. Gene Hackman delivers a strong performance as the convict. Dunaway creates the only interesting supporting role as Hackman's daughter who gives insight into the past. Supporting roles are not very broad or interesting. Well made film based on the John Grisham book, and certainly in better standing than the corrupt A Time to Kill and its warped message. It isn't an entertaining outing but its theme of redemption and rekindled love make up for film's shortcomings. Score: 7 ½ / 10

A few years ago, I read the novel "The Chamber" by John Grisham and I thought it was a spectacular reading experience. Then, in 1996, they released it in the theatres and I was hoping that the outcome would turn out on a positive note, just like the novel. Also I was hoping that very talented performers like Chris O'Donnell, Gene Hackman and Faye Dunaway would grace the screen like they've done before. However, the high expectations were sadly shattered. Nothing exciting happens as opposed to what's in the book, there's very little happening here, the acting is very wooden and the actors were woefully miscast. On a positive note, some stuff from the novel were brought into the movie. So for those who never read the novel or seen the movie, I won't give too much away. But those who expected an equally riveting novel to movie adaptation, you will be disappointed. One thing that upset me most here is the different characteristics between Adam Hall in the novel and Adam Hall (Chris O'Donnell) in the movie. In the novel, Hall is a typical attorney who's a bit green and does not know what to expect. In the movie, he's made like a big-shot who can get by in this case like a piece of cake. Okay, I understand we can't cram everything from the novel, because then it would take too long, and we're not all patient for a three hour movie; so I respect that. I think the movie had it's mind on cutting to the chase rather than unravelling the events that led to the scenes. In the end it's just better that you all should just read the book and forget about the film.

I know that probably goes for every book made into a movie ever made but for this one it really shows. The movie is good at times at portraying just why the book was so great and at other times cuts out some of the most important part of the film.The film gets the first 1/6th of the book done in about 10 minutes, fine, I can accept that, need to get to the center so people are not bored, it was only when after 2/6 of the book was after 30 minutes I started to get annoyed and I state this below...The middle just sort of cut to the chase and this bothers me, if anything, this is one of the worst things you can do to a book, they cut out a lot of the feel of the book in these first 30 minutes of the movie, and fans of the book should feel angered by this (Like Me).On the good side of the book, the film does pick up after the initial part, and by the end you have sympathy for all the characters (Much like the book). The film is definitely a tribute to the book by the end.Overall, fans of the book will like this movie after the initial stage, and while they do add a lot of stupid chunks of the movie (Adam Meets Rollie Wedge) the film does do well to the book.I rate this movie 62%.JOHN GRISAM RULES!!!