Why Matt Damon’s ‘The Rainmaker’ is a Must-Watch for ‘Suits’ Fans!

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scarcely do shows manage to grow larger following their initial broadcast, but the legal drama series ‘Suits’ has bucked this trend and experienced such growth. In 2023, it witnessed a significant increase in popularity when it became accessible for streaming on Netflix and Peacock. Nielsen data indicates that a staggering 57.7 billion minutes were spent watching the New York-based show on Netflix alone that year, making it the most-watched series of the time. As anticipated, NBCUniversal started contemplating expansion. The studio subsequently created a spin-off series, named ‘Suits LA’, featuring Stephen Amell (best recognized for his work in ‘Arrow’), which is currently being aired.

As a passionate film aficionado, I must confess that the spin-off of Suits, titled Suits LA, hasn’t been receiving rave reviews from critics just yet. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 37%, it’s quite far from the 91% the original show garnered. This is somewhat concerning, but as we all know, things can always take an unexpected turn. There are whispers that some characters from the original series might make an appearance in the future, which could potentially elevate its quality. In the interim, for Suits enthusiasts like myself, there’s a captivating film from the ’90s to keep us satisfied – The Rainmaker, starring Matt Damon and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. This movie, set in the ruthless legal world, shares some similarities with the original Suits series.

‘The Rainmaker’ Covers a Rookie’s Journey to the Top

Movies adapted from John Grisham’s novels are consistently captivating, and “The Rainmaker” is no exception – it’s a gripping, intricately structured legal tale that delves into the transient essence of innocence within ethically questionable professional spheres. In this narrative, Rudy Baylor, a law school graduate from Memphis State University, harbors aspirations for a lucrative post-graduation job but finds himself without any prospects. As a result, he settles for employment at a local bar. Fate, however, seems to have other plans; the proprietor of the establishment, J. Lyman “Bruiser” Stone (played by Mickey Rourke), is not only a wealthy ambulance chaser but also takes Rudy under his wing as his newest apprentice.

At Bruiser’s law office, Rudy receives guidance from office assistant Deck Shifflet, played by Danny DeVito. Despite holding a law degree, Deck has repeatedly failed the bar exam six times, preventing him from practicing law. Meanwhile, Rudy has passed the Tennessee bar exam but is still not fully licensed to argue cases in court. Both Damon and DeVito deliver outstanding performances, with DeVito’s aggressive persona providing a strong contrast to Damon’s more subtle demeanor.

Rudy’s role primarily includes seeking out prospective clients at local hospitals for personal injury lawsuits and signing them up. However, an energetic individual like Rudy often strives for more than just the basic responsibilities. When Bruiser was absent one day, self-assured Rudy tried to step in on his behalf, which unfortunately led to a reprimand from the judge.

In the near future, Rudy learns that Leo Drummond’s office has been ransacked by the FBI, and the seasoned lawyer is nowhere to be found. However, before fleeing, Drummond left $5500 for each of them to start their own law firm. But as they embark on this new venture, Rudy faces a major hurdle when he develops feelings for a potential client, leading to complications.

‘Suits’ Has a Few “Rainmakers”

The Rainmaker” is an excellent choice for fans of “Suits” as it features characters handling intricate legal cases, much like Mike Ross, but also delves into their own legal troubles. Remarkably, the three principal characters exhibit similarities to Mike Ross in some aspects.

Rudy mirrors a specific character by positioning himself among plaintiffs and defendants, even though he lacks the necessary qualifications. He embodies a modern legal drama protagonist – a tenacious, hard-living man who derives satisfaction from the perils of his profession alone. Similarly, Deck resembles Ross due to his aversion towards discussions about law school; such topics cause him headaches. Bruiser, too, echoes Ross’s past as he finds himself on the wrong side of the law. In addition, Bruiser bears a resemblance to Harvey Specter in terms of leadership, much like how Specter is portrayed as a boss figure.

In addition to this, the series “Suits” features some key characters who are known as “rainmakers.” These are lawyers who bring in substantial clients and win impressive court cases, resulting in significant compensation. As the story progresses, Rudy demonstrates his ability to be a rainmaker, while Leo F. Drummond is already well-established in this role. On the show, we also encounter Harvey Spector, Robert Zane, Daniel Hardman, and a few others who fit this description.

In the Francis Ford Coppola film, as well as in legal dramas, mentorship plays an essential role. For instance, Rudy gains expertise under Deck Shifflet (Danny DeVito) and distinguishes between sound advice and misguided counsel, which significantly improves his skills beyond his teacher’s level. Previously, he receives Bruiser’s kindness, who, moved by the struggling young man’s despair, rescues him from a state of helplessness, resuscitates him professionally, and offers him a position in his law firm. Similarly, on television, Mike Ross is tutored by Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), allowing him to ascend to become an exceptional top closer in the industry.

Francis Ford Coppola Seemingly Fell Off After ‘The Rainmaker’ While Matt Damon’s Star Continued to Rise

The film, The Rainmaker, is more famously associated with boosting Coppola and Damon’s careers than being recognized as a perfect courtroom drama or an outstanding adaptation of John Grisham’s work, which tackles significant ethical issues. Since the 90s, this acclaimed director has only produced four movies following this gem, all of which have underperformed critically.

There has been much discussion about why the director known for The Godfather has struggled to leave a mark in recent years. Is it due to the weak scripts and lackluster direction that characterize his more recent films?

According to Coppola, his latest circumstances seem predestined. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he expressed this belief.

After completing ‘The Rainmaker’, I took a break from professional directing for about 14 years. Instead, I decided to step back, immerse myself in learning the craft, and gain a deeper understanding of filmmaking. To achieve this, I produced several modest movies on my own. One of these was ‘Youth Without Youth’ filmed in Romania, which cost less than a million dollars to make. Later on, I traveled to Argentina where I made another low-budget movie called Tetro, following the same approach.

Coppola believes his less-than-successful films were not intended to be successful, but rather opportunities for him to learn and explore different aspects of filmmaking. He considers these projects as experiments, including the film “Megalopolis,” and acknowledges that he gained valuable insights about acting in the process.

For Matt Damon, playing The Rainmaker in 1997 was a significant milestone that further elevated his career. That year, he also appeared in Chasing Amy and Good Will Hunting, which cemented his status as a prominent figure in Hollywood’s elite. He proved versatile enough to excel in various roles. In the subsequent year, Damon starred in Saving Private Ryan, followed by even greater acclaim with the Bourne series.

At present, fans of Suits can relish the movie, and if ’90s films seem antiquated, there is promising news. A Rainmaker TV series by Michael Seitzman (Quantico) is in the works at USA. This will represent the network’s initial new scripted drama in quite a while, after wrapping up its popular shows Suits and White Collar. Here’s hoping it’ll be as captivating (or more so) than the big-screen adaptation and won’t face continuous comparisons.

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2025-03-12 05:02