Malice

Rating:
Summary: Not perfect, but still a malicious treat
Review: "Malice" opens in one of those idyllic New England college towns where being late with your papers is pretty much the worst thing that can happen. Even the repeated attacks by a serial-rapist-murderer hasn't dampened its homey spirit (or enlivened it that much). For Professor Andy Saffian (Bill Pullman) and his wife Tracy (Nicole Kidman), life is no more complicated than grading papers and fixing up their old brownstone. Despite continued murders in which young women are raped and then shorn of their hair, calm is only broken by the arrival of the flamboyant Dr. Jed Hill, the new head surgeon. Hill allows himself a rep as a godlike surgeon, a paragon among an exclusive club, but you're more likely to run into him when "speaking of the devil". (Not quite tolerant of dissent in the OR, Hill is quite explicit to assisting doctor who dares raise the possibility that one life may slip through Hill's fingers. "I'm not going to like you", the intimidated doctor fearfully predicts. "Ofcourse you will", Hill says back smiling, "Everybody likes me".) Hill moves in with Andy and Tracy, making their lives a living hell with his partying, but Andy is too good natured to run him out, and Tracy seems to share a strange bond with him. Tragedy strikes before the domestic situation gets too complicated - Tracy collapses and is rushed to the hospital with ovarian cysts. Jed rushes to the rescue - from the neighborhood bar. While one of Tracy's ovaries has clearly gone bad, the other may be good but appears "necrotic". Unable to wait for a pathologist to determine whether the remaining ovary should be removed, Jed makes a command decision. The tragic result leads to a civil suit. Though Jed has his expertise on his side, he sabotages his defense with the now infamous "I am god" speech. Tracy, though winning the case, seems more withdrawn then ever, and disappears completely. Andy, unable to let go of Tracy follows her, only to learn dark things about his young and apparently innocent wife.

It's really impossible to give more than that without spoiling it. "Malice" has its share of twists, though not very ironic ones - they exist as mere plot devices. The sub-plots don't always fit and it's incredible how trusting Andy is.

Still "Malice", for its faults, is a treat, mostly because of its leads. Nicole Kidman is great as a woman who isn't what she seems, Baldwin excels because he is exactly what he seems and Pullman is great because he becomes the last person he could possibly be in the final reel. The final scene ends on a final joke, one that makes you forget how contrived the rest of the movie is. With Ann Bancroft as Kidman's never revealed mother, an alcoholic wreck who's a wiz at card tricks; The lovely Bebe Nieuwirth as the local police chief with a Boston accent that makes her sound as old as Bancroft looks; Peter Gallagher looking much younger than he did in "American Beauty" as Kidman's lawyer; and the now late George C. Scott as a nice guy who mentored Baldwin's character but wasn't nice enough when it counted.

Rating:
Summary: Not as bad as most people think.
Review: All right, so it could be better.

If you're an Aaron Sorkin (writer of "Sports Night," "West Wing," "American President," "Few Good Men") fan like I am, you'd probably expect "Malice" to possess a crackling dialogue and the back-and-forth banter that has become Sorkin's trademark. In this area, "Malice" disappoints.

The acting by Pullman and Baldwin is more than a little stiff, but Kidman does well, and Anne Bancroft steals her scene as Kidman's eerie, presumed dead mother. And "Frasier"'s Bebe Neuwirth is wonderful as a homicide detective.

The story is decent, but it possesses very little to set it apart from any other thriller movie, save an almost anticlimatic scene where Pullman wrestles a serial rapist and the final twist at the end of the movie, where one character learns he or she has been hoodwinked.

I'd be very interested in seeing what Sorkin could do with this script now, and how he'd jazz it up a bit. With a little patience and work, "Malice" could be a phenomenon.

Rating:
Summary: Easy going thriller without the violence
Review: Axtually it really shouldn't even get 3 stars because the story in effect has more holes in it than swiss cheese .... but .... I find it pretty hard to give any movie with the stellar cast of Baldwin and Kidmann anything less than three ....


Both of them play their roles perectly, Baldwin the 'I believe I'm god' doctor and Kidmann as the sceeming (I hope one day Amazon puts a spell checker into this screen!) young housewife.


Certainly the kind of movie you will watch and probably a few years later youll buy or rent it again cause you'll have forgotten the film .... ;(

Rating:
Summary: Great performances. Good movie
Review: I just realized that the DVD is discontinued so I am lucky enough to get a copy. This is simply a great movie that was overlooked in its theatrical release. The serial killing plot is a bit redundant. Alec Baldwin and Bill Pullman give strong performances. Even Peter Gallagher and the late George C Scott gave excellent supporting performances. Too bad the DVD is not a wide screen version like the LD and there is no 5.1 Surround and also no English subtitling which is major bummer. But like the movie enough for me to justify the purchase of the DVD.

Rating:
Summary: The Malice review
Review: I like the movie alot. It captivates me. I especially like dvds because you privledged to see the edited parts that most people would not see on video.

Rating:
Summary: The Malice review
Review: I like the movie alot. It captivates me. I especially like dvds because you privledged to see the edited parts that most people would not see on video.

Rating:
Summary: Really good thriller....
Review: If, like me, you somehow missed "Malice' when it was originally released, then you are in for a treat if you view it now.

Never being a really big Nicole Kidman fan, I discovered she was at the top of her game in this movie that is all about playing games with the viewer's mind.

Alec Baldwin was exceptional and convincing in his role as a doctor with a God-complex. Bill Pullman was cast perfectly for his role as loving husband. Ann Bancroft and George C. Scott gave sterling performances in key roles. Frasier's wife Lilith with Cliff's accent was adequate in a different sort of role for Bebe Neuwirth. Look for a young Gwyneth Paltrow as a troubled college student.

The star of this film was definitely the plot twists and turns. Though I waited, I never became so mired in their tangle that I had to sit back and wait for it to work out. I was much to busy being entertained by the maliciously delicious manner the paths of the story took from scene to intriguing scene.

Watching older films on DVD I have discovered that most of all I enjoy those that are a 'pleasure' to watch, those they provide entertainment and enjoyment. This film did just that and at no time was it a waste of my time, agreeable or otherwise. My DVD offers a choice of wide-screen or full screen formats. The color saturation was marvelous. There were not a lot of extra features, but the theatrical trailer was different and interesting.

Viewers who love thrillers will enjoy 'Malice' as film that has aged well, offers an excellent cast, and retains it ability to thrill and entertain.

Rating:
Summary: QUIRKY THRILLER REQUIRES UNDIVIDED ATTENTION
Review: If, like me, you somehow missed "Malice' when it was originally released, then you are in for a treat if you view it now.

Never being a really big Nicole Kidman fan, I discovered she was at the top of her game in this movie that is all about playing games with the viewer's mind.

Alec Baldwin was exceptional and convincing in his role as a doctor with a God-complex. Bill Pullman was cast perfectly for his role as loving husband. Ann Bancroft and George C. Scott gave sterling performances in key roles. Frasier's wife Lilith with Cliff's accent was adequate in a different sort of role for Bebe Neuwirth. Look for a young Gwyneth Paltrow as a troubled college student.

The star of this film was definitely the plot twists and turns. Though I waited, I never became so mired in their tangle that I had to sit back and wait for it to work out. I was much to busy being entertained by the maliciously delicious manner the paths of the story took from scene to intriguing scene.

Watching older films on DVD I have discovered that most of all I enjoy those that are a 'pleasure' to watch, those they provide entertainment and enjoyment. This film did just that and at no time was it a waste of my time, agreeable or otherwise. My DVD offers a choice of wide-screen or full screen formats. The color saturation was marvelous. There were not a lot of extra features, but the theatrical trailer was different and interesting.

Viewers who love thrillers will enjoy 'Malice' as film that has aged well, offers an excellent cast, and retains it ability to thrill and entertain.

Rating:
Summary: Really good thriller....
Review: If, like me, you somehow missed "Malice' when it was originally released, then you are in for a treat if you view it now.

Never being a really big Nicole Kidman fan, I discovered she was at the top of her game in this movie that is all about playing games with the viewer's mind.

Alec Baldwin was exceptional and convincing in his role as a doctor with a God-complex. Bill Pullman was cast perfectly for his role as loving husband. Ann Bancroft and George C. Scott gave sterling performances in key roles. Frasier's wife Lilith with Cliff's accent was adequate in a different sort of role for Bebe Neuwirth. Look for a young Gwyneth Paltrow as a troubled college student.

The star of this film was definitely the plot twists and turns. Though I waited, I never became so mired in their tangle that I had to sit back and wait for it to work out. I was much to busy being entertained by the maliciously delicious manner the paths of the story took from scene to intriguing scene.

Watching older films on DVD I have discovered that most of all I enjoy those that are a 'pleasure' to watch, those they provide entertainment and enjoyment. This film did just that and at no time was it a waste of my time, agreeable or otherwise. My DVD offers a choice of wide-screen or full screen formats. The color saturation was marvelous. There were not a lot of extra features, but the theatrical trailer was different and interesting.

Viewers who love thrillers will enjoy 'Malice' as film that has aged well, offers an excellent cast, and retains it ability to thrill and entertain.

Rating:
Summary: More twists and turns than Spaghetti Junction
Review: It starts out with the appearance of one type of movie, but before long the true plot begins to take shape. There are so many twists that it can get a little confusing, and may take a second viewing just to clear up those loose ends. On the whole, an excellent movie, with some great acting from Alec Baldwin, Nicole Kidman and Bill Pullman. To go into too much detail about the film runs the risk of spoiling the ending, but if you enjoy Hitchcock thrillers, then you would do well to watch this. Stephen Buxton