Absence of Malice
by Sydney Pollack
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Bob Balaban, Luther Adler, Melinda Dillon, Paul Newman, Sally FieldDirector: Sydney Pollack
Brand: Sony
DVD: 2 Sides, Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0; Spanish (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 1.0
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 1.85:1
Running Time: 116 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1998-04-15
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures
Movie Reviews of Absence of Malice
Movie Review: Field and Newman make a great team in this intriguing plot-boiler...
Summary: 4 Stars
With a tightly woven internal plot that will keep your interest and certainly satisfy your curiosity, `Absence of Malice' makes up for its Soap Operish approach to its main characters. That is really my only complaint with the film actually. The acting is all either very good or at least effective, and the overall plot is very nicely constructed; and even the predictable and somewhat unnecessary (and entirely unbelievable) love affair is entertaining at least.
Fact is, this is a very good movie.
Attacking the media and its `no holds bar' approach to `serving the community', `Absence of Malice' pins reporter against civilian as Megan Carter writes a story (under some corrupted influence) that paints Michael Colin Gallagher in an unbecoming light. The thing is, the story is accurate but it's just not entirely truthful. It's misleading and destructive yet it isn't something that Carter is willing to retract. As Michael fights to clear his name he gets the cogs turning in his pursuit of revenge.
I actually think that the script is the films biggest ally as well as its biggest enemy. The central plot is practically genius but the way it handles the relationship between Carter and Gallagher was just far too sappy. I didn't like the whole `falling in love' aspect, for I felt it diminished the intensity and realism of the overall film. It distracted the audience from the heart of the film by giving it an ulterior plot.
Thankfully it evens out enough to remain engaging and rewarding.
The acting is very good from everyone involved. I love me some Sally Field, and here she captures her characters struggle for the truth very well. You can see that she wants to believe everyone yet knows that she cannot. Paul Newman is always good, so there really isn't more to say about that. The thing with Newman is that he is so good all of the time that when he isn't `blowing our minds' we can tend to overlook his performance. We expect him to be good, so if he doesn't push it then he can go unnoticed. I kind of see that here. He does a very good job, as always, but there is nothing extraordinary about this performance. He builds fine layers of subtle emotional turmoil, and he is impressive (so don't for one second think I'm berating his performance) but to be honest this is far from his best work. The supporting players are all effective. Bob Balaban is remarkably seedy, Melinda Dillon is believably unstable and Wilford Brimley all but steals the show in his very small yet important scene at the films close.
So, I totally recommend this film. It could have (and really should have) been better, but you can't expect perfection every time. You can look at most movies and see where the director or writer could have made changes to make it just that much better, but when a film is this interesting, this engaging and this satisfying you just have to put those complaints beside you and indulge yourself on pure entertainment.
Summary of Absence of Malice
High-minded story about the harm that news media can inflict. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 05/13/2008 Starring: Paul Newman Wilford Brimley Run time: 116 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Sydney PollackThe ethics of the press are roundly slapped around in an entertaining if not always believable drama from director Sydney Pollack. Sally Field is the Miami reporter who is set up to leak information on a dead-end murder investigation. A sneaky government official (a marvelous, rubber-band-spinning Bob Balaban) provides the information that implies liquor distributor Paul Newman is under investigation. When the story runs, it uncorks a legal quagmire that puts the spotlight on presumably innocent lives. As the lawyers explain, the paper's story is accurate, even though it may be untrue. The details of the story are sharply drawn by first-time screenwriter and former reporter Kurt Luedtke (who later went on to win an Oscar scripting Pollack's Out of Africa); the film could be used in a Media Ethics 101 class. Newman secretly counterattacks in a clever plot to derail the process that quickly encompasses his jittery friend (Oscar nominee Melinda Dillon). Field's continuing ethical gaps--including falling in love with her subject--stretch the film's credibility. Then again, who wouldn't fall for Paul Newman in the Florida sun? --Doug Thomas
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