Home | Movies By Year | Movies from 1981
Absence of Malice
Buy Absence of Malice now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the movie. And once you've experienced the movie, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
'Absence of Malice' is a 1981 American drama neo noir thriller film directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Paul Newman, Sally Field, Wilford Brimley, Melinda Dillon and Bob Balaban.
The title refers to one of the defenses against libel defamation, and is used in journalism classes to illustrate the conflict between disclosing damaging personal information and the public's right to know.[https://www.cjr.org/critical_eye/absence_of_malice_1981.php Absence of Malice (1981)] When bad journalism kills, By Lauren Kirchner, Columbia Journalism Review, July 15, 2011
Plot
Miami liquor wholesaler Michael Gallagher (Paul Newman), who is the son of a deceased criminal, awakens one day to find himself a front-page story in the local newspaper, which indicates that he is being investigated in the disappearance and presumed murder of a local longshoremen's union official, Joey Diaz.
The story was written by 'Miami Standard' newspaper reporter Megan Carter (Sally Field), who reads it from a file left intentionally on the desktop of federal prosecutor Elliot Rosen (Bob Balaban). As it turns out, Rosen is doing a bogus investigation and has leaked it with the purpose of squeezing Gallagher for information.
Gallagher comes to the newspaper's office trying to discover the basis for the story, but Carter does not reveal her source. Gallagher's business is shut down by union officials who are now suspicious of him since he has been implicated in Diaz's murder. Local crime boss Malderone, Gallagher's uncle, has him followed, just in case he talks to the government.
Teresa Perrone (Melinda Dillon), a lifelong friend of Gallagher, tells the reporter that Gallagher could not have killed Diaz because Gallagher took her out of town to get an abortion that weekend. A devout Catholic, she does not want Carter to reveal the abortion, but Carter includes it in the story anyway. When the paper comes out the next morning, Perrone picks up the copies from her neighbors' yards before they can be read. Later, offscreen, she commits suicide.
The paper's editor tells Carter that Perrone has committed suicide. Carter goes to Gallagher to apologize, but an enraged Gallagher assaults her. Nevertheless, she attempts to make it up to him by revealing Rosen's role in the investigation.
Gallagher hatches a plan for revenge. He arranges a secret meeting with District Attorney Quinn (Don Hood), offering to use his organized-crime contacts to give Quinn exclusive information on Diaz's murder in exchange for the D.A. calling off the investigation and issuing a public statement clearing him. Both before his meeting with Quinn and after Quinn's public statement, Gallagher makes significant anonymous contributions to one of Quinn's political action committee backers. Gallagher, thankful for Carter's help, also begins a love affair with her.
Rosen is mystified by Quinn's exoneration of Gallagher, so he places phone taps on both and begins a surveillance of their movements. He and federal agent Bob Waddell obtain evidence of Gallagher's donations to Quinn's political committee. They also find out about Gallagher and Carter's relationship. Waddell, as a friend, warns Carter about the investigation to keep her out of trouble, but she breaks the story the federal strike force is investigating Gallagher's attempt to bribe the D.A.
The story makes the front page again and causes an uproar over the investigation of the District Attorney. Assistant US Attorney General Wells (Wilford Brimley) ultimately calls all of the principals together. He offers them a choice between going before a grand jury and informally making their case to him. Rosen questions Gallagher but it quickly becomes apparent that he has no case, and Carter reveals that Rosen left the file on Gallagher open on his desk for her to read.
After the truth comes out, Wells suggests Quinn resign, as Gallagher's donations to Quinn's political committee, though not illegal, cast suspicions on Quinn's motives in issuing his statement clearing Gallagher. Wells also suspects that Gallagher set everything up, but cannot prove it, so he will not investigate further. Attempting to rebuke Gallagher, Wells tells him not to "get too smart," noting that he himself is "a pretty smart fella" to which Gallagher replies: "Everybody in this room is pretty smart and everybody is just doing their job. And Teresa Perrone is dead... Who do I see about that?" Finally, Wells fires Rosen for malfeasance. The newspaper now prints a new story written by a different reporter revealing details of the incidents.
It is unclear whether Carter keeps her job, or whether Carter's relationship with Gallagher will continue, but the final scene shows them having a cordial conversation on the wharf where Gallagher's boat is docked before he sails away and leaves the city.
Cast
Production
The movie was written by Kurt Luedtke, a former newspaper editor, and David Rayfiel (uncredited).[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081974/fullcredits#writers "'Absence of Malice' (1981),"] Internet Movie Database. Accessed March 20, 2012. Newman said that the film was a "direct attack on the 'New York Post'," which had earlier published a caption for a photo of Newman that he said was inaccurate. Because of the dispute, the 'Post' banned Newman from its pages, even removing his name from movies in the TV listings.
Reception
Critical response
'Absence of Malice' received mostly positive reviews. Newman and Dillon's performances were praised, as was Brimley's cameo. Many reviewers compared the film to the 1976 Oscarwinner 'All the President's Men'. In his review, 'Time' magazine's Richard Schickel wrote "'Absence of Malice' does not invalidate 'All the President's Men'. But with entertainment values and a moral sense every bit as high as that film's, it observes that there is an underside to journalistic gallantry."Schickel, Richard. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,922725,00.html "Cinema: Lethal Leaks"] , 'Time' magazine (November 23, 1981). Similarly, 'Variety' called it "a splendidly disturbing look at the power of sloppy reporting to inflict harm on the innocent."[https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117796641?refcatid=31 "'Absence of Malice'], 'Variety' (December 31, 1980).The 'Chicago Sun-Times' Roger Ebert wrote that some may take the approach "that no respectable journalist would ever do the things that Sally Field does about, to, and with Paul Newman in this movie. She is a disgrace to her profession." Instead he preferred a "romantic" approach, writing that he "liked this movie despite its factual and ethical problems" and was not "even so sure they matter so much to most viewers".Ebert, Roger. [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19810101/REVIEWS/40318067 "Absence of Malice"] , 'Chicago Sun-Times' (January 1, 1981). Janet Maslin of 'The New York Times' found the movie "lacking in momentum", but praised its "quiet gravity".Maslin, Janet. [https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=EE05E7DF173BB72CAA494CC1B7799D836896 "MOVIE REVIEW: NYT Critics' Pick: Absence of Malice"], 'The New York Times' (November 19, 1981) Dave Kehr of the 'Chicago Reader' disliked 'Absence of Malice', writing that "the picture has a smug, demoralizing sense of pervasive corruption".Kehr, Dave. [http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/absence-of-malice/Film?oid=1071491 "Absence of Malice"] , Chicago Reader. Accessed March 20, 2012. Although Pauline Kael described the film as only "moderately entertaining", she offered higher praise for Newman's "sly, compact performance" and particularly for "the marvelously inventive acting of Melinda Dillon".
Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 81% based on reviews from 26 critics, with an average score of 6.79/10.
Academic use
'Absence of Malice' has been used in journalism and public administration courses to illustrate professional errors such as writing a story without seeking confirmation and having a romantic relationship with a source.Box office
The film was a box office success. 'Film Comment' said "It was the first picture in ages that had Newman playing opposite a strong female co-star in a romantic vein and Columbia astutely capitalized on public desire to see Newman in such a role again."Seventh Annual Grosses Gloss Meisel, Myron. Film Comment; New York Vol. 18, Iss. 2, (Mar/Apr 1982): 60-66,80.
Awards and honors
'Absence of Malice' was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Newman), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Dillon) and Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. At the 32nd Berlin International Film Festival, the film won an Honourable Mention.References
Buy Absence of Malice now from Amazon
<-- Return to movies from 1981