Absence of Malice [VHS]

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The 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-spinningBob 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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Customer Reviews

Rating: - Outstanding in several ways
I am a major movie buff owning over 700 in my library. While this film (which is an excellent film) would not crack my top 20 it has my single favorite scene in the movies.In a movie with an interesting plot that has fine performances by Newman, Fields and Balaban, Wilford Brimley has a 5 minute cameo scene near the end that is acting at it's absolute finest and thoroughly enjoyable to watch and appreciate.
Rating: - Field and Newman make a great team in this intriguing plot-boiler...
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 ... Read More
Rating: - Absence of Malice
This a great story and a wonderful production. I've always appreciated it and decided to add it to my movie collection. There couldn't have been a better couple than Paul Newman and Sally Field to cast in their respective parts. And, it has a balanced ending, something that Hollywood sems to be forgetting how to create.
Rating: - My Favorite Paul Newman Movie
This is a movie I can watch over and over again. I never get tired of it. Just writing this review makes me want see it right now. It is a very powerful story about how the press can ruin peoples lives without being absolutely sure they are printing the truth and how they can be manipulated into furthering someone elses agenda regardless of how accurate the story they have been fed really is. The scene with Wilford Brimley is worth buying the movie for. I think my favorite line from him is "the last ... Read More
Rating: - Newman nails 'em to the wall!
Cleverly woven story that comes to a head when U.S. Attorney General James Wells (Wilford Brimley) "Lays down The Law" to reporter Megan Carter (SallyField), Strike Force leader Elliott Rosen (Bob Balaban), investigator Robert Waddell (Barry Primus) and District Attorney Jim Quinn (Don Hood) for trying to "get something" on Michael Gallagher (Paul Newman); who ends up turning the tables on everyone trying to use him.

Great morality play on The Press (and their Spin Control) and a lesson ... Read More