July 26, 1994 -- ``The Client'' is the latest of the John Grisham novels to make it to the big screen. It is not really believable, but it is an entertaining thriller nonetheless.

Grisham's first two novels to make it to the screen were ``The Firm'' and ``The Pelican Brief.'' Both were very successful movies. Both benefited from fine actors and good production values. This film shares those characteristics and it has the extra benefit of added suspense.

Susan Sarandon, starring as defense lawyer Reggie Love (really) and Tommy Lee Jones as prosecutor ``The Reverend'' Roy Foltrigg, provide the acting fireworks in this thriller. Love's client, pre-teen Mark Sway (expertly played by Brad Renfro) witnesses a mob lawyer's suicide and in the process learns, literally, where the body is buried. Sway, who must have an I.Q. of at least 900, tells no one what he knows and realizes that if he does, he will be killed.

Sway also seems to know more about the law than the supposedly competent lawyers in the story, and says he learned everything he knows from television. The bad guys are evil, stupid, incompetent and have no depth. Despite all this nonsense, director Joel Schumacher (``Falling Down'') and writers Akiva Goldsman and Robert Getchell squeeze the most suspense they can out of a story that lacks a good climax.

Sarandon, Jones and Renfro along with some good supporting actors make the story more believable than it should be with their excellent performances. There's also a good chemistry between the three lead actors. Despite its flaws, it is an entertaining movie. It rates a B.

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