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Barry Primus, Bob Balaban, Don Hood

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 o...( read more  read more... )n 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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54% liked it

3,461 ratings

PG, 116 min.

Directed by: Sydney Pollack

Release Date: November 19, 1981

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DVD Release Date: March 31, 1998

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Flixster Reviews (120)

  • sononothing
    April 28, 2009
    sononothing
    Absence of Malice is another one of those early '80's news/courtroom dramas where people have to face what's legal and what's moral. The film stars Paul Newman as Michael Colin Gallagher, a liquor warehouse owner in Miami whose father was a player in the syndicate. Gallagher is c...( read more)lean, but a federal prosecutor (Bob Balaban) use him as a way to gain leverage in the case of a missing union boss. A story is "leaked" to reporter Megan Carter (Sally Field) who ends up writing the story and starting the snowball effect of events that soon goes out of control.

    To be perfectly honest, the only reason to watch this film is for Paul Newman. Newman once again electrifies the screen. The rest of the cast is blah. The story, which starts out interesting, soon turns into a ridiculous cat and mouse game that is far from believable. You could compare this film to All the President's Men or ...And Justice for All but they aren't really in the same league. The only other redeeming part of the film is Wilford Brimley's cameo near the end of the film. He makes a rather dull ending a little more exciting. Other than that the film is a dull exercise in how to suckle onto a popular genre.
  • alanjayh
    June 3, 2008
    alanjayh
    heavy courtroom drama with strong cast lead byPaul Newman...another message driven movie that will hold your interest
  • ileo
    January 10, 2008
    ileo
    Brilliant movie! Paul Newman and Sally Field were outstanding in this.
  • terris85017
    March 23, 2009
    terris85017
    2 supreme lead actor heavyweights turn in an excellent performance.
  • saltersheppard
    September 27, 2008
    saltersheppard
    One of my favorite movies. Everyone doeas a great job. Fields and Newman are perfect. The story is awesome. The ending is not predictable.
  • markm60447
    August 6, 2007
    markm60447
    Great monologue by Wilfred Brimley
  • jason417
    May 24, 2007
    jason417
    If you love the press, you should see this film!
  • footydad55
    May 8, 2007
    footydad55
    Worth four starts for one scene alone, in which Wilfred Brimley (best known as The Oatmeal Guy) comes in as special prosecuter and tells the assembled group Just How Things Are Gong To Be Done
  • saroz162
    May 4, 2007
    saroz162
    A slow, studied film about the ethics of journalism, with solid performances by the leads - and, unfortunately, a rather pat storyline. Everything fits a little too easily, everyone forgives a little too quickly. Sally Field's character keeps making the same mistake, over and ove...( read more)r, and barely gets called out on it. Still, the film doesn't deserve to have been completely forgotten in the way it has.

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