Absence of Malice

Directed by Sydney Pollack, Absence of Malice follows Paul Newman’s Michael Gallagher as he attempts to clear his name, along with the help of a plucky reporter (Sally Field’s Megan Carter), after he’s accused of murder in a prominent Miami newspaper. It’s stirring subject matter that’s employed to watchable (albeit consistently erratic) effect by Pollack, as the filmmaker, armed with Kurt Luedtke’s screenplay, offers up a deliberately-paced drama that benefits from its atmospheric visuals and raft of compelling performances – with, in terms of the latter, Newman’s magnetic, commanding turn matched by Field and their various costars (including Melinda Dillon, Josef Sommer, and Bob Balaban). (Wilford Brimley’s enthralling late-in-the-game appearance as a pragmatic attorney remains a clear highlight within the proceedings, ultimately.) And although Pollack’s relaxed approach does, generally speaking, prevent the film from packing the engrossing punch one might’ve anticipated, Absence of Malice predominantly comes off as an intriguing, interesting drama that’s enhanced by its plenthora of overtly agreeable attributes (eg the down-to-earth representation of Megan’s busy newsroom).

*** out of ****

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