Sunday 18 June 2023

Absence of Malice (1981 Sydney Pollack)

We inadvertently watched another Sydney Pollack, again after a gap of many years. This is a baffling crime/political thriller of the type very much in fashion in the US at that time. Apart from the fact that we never discover what became of the long-missing Union boss, which is the key to the whole story, it does get wrapped up quite neatly at the end, in showdown with States Attorney Wilford Brimley, though we don't really understand Bob Balaban's zealous pursuit of Paul Newman even after it's pretty clear he's innocent. (Balaban's good, though.)

The moment Newman loses it and rips into Sally Field is quite something.

There's something in this about the freedoms and responsibilities of the press.

With Melinda Dillon, Josef Sommer (news editor), Luther Adler, John Harkins and only Barry Primus AGAIN!

There he is!

Photography: Owen Roizman, editing Sheldon Khan. music Dave Grusin.

Oh yes, it was written by former Detroit Free Press Editor Kurt Luedtke, who had worked early on as a reporter on organized crime in Florida. He pitched this idea before having even written a single screenplay, and Orion picked it up. For his next, Out of Africa, he won the Oscar!

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