Review: MALICE / Harold Becker (1993)
November 19th, 2008 by Scott Marks
Malice (1993)
Directed by Harold Becker
Written by Aaron Sorkin and Scott Frank from a story by Sorkin and Jonas McCord
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Nicole Kidman, Bill Pullman, Bebe Neuwirth, Peter Gallagher, Tobin Bell, Gwyneth Paltrow as a victim with Special Guest Stars Anne Bancroft and George C. Scott
Photographed by Gordon Willis
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Running Time: 107 min.
Rating: 
Wanna’ buy a LaserDisc?
Malice starts out poorly and quickly disintegrates into something much worse. It’s a stock thriller plot, interpreted by a pedigreed cast, hack screenwriter and lethargic director. Slow and simplistic for its first hour, the bottom third files faster than calendar pages in a Sirk montage.
The placid lives of pussy whipped Professor Bill Pullman and his way-too hot teacher wife Nicole Kidman derail when a dark friend from the past, Alec Baldwin, appears. A chance meeting leads to a roommate situation which affords Dr. Baldwin the opportunity of professionally manhandling his friend’s naked wife. Don’t worry, they’re both in on it.
Gordon Willis’ exposures are as dim as the dialogue, in stark contrast to the overwritten plot that packs more points than a season of episodic TV. Willis must have spent years studying faded Metrocolor prints in order to develop his look. The cinematographer’s patented muted mahogany, contrast-free tones defined many a great movie, while compromising a great many more. Not unlike exalted DP Sven Nykvist, whose dark frames are also instantly identifiable, when applied to other projects, their styles seem out of place and redundant.
Exposition that could have been dispensed in 3 minutes takes up the first reel, but the laughs start coming at a quickening pace. Dripping in Kidman’s blood, Baldwin bursts into the doctor, patient conference room and overtakes Pullman with the bad news: They’re under the gun and Baldwin wants to remove his wife’s remaining ovary. The good doctor pauses before whispering the obvious: She’ll never be able to have children. Even with the worst HMO on the planet you would think Pullman would demand a second opinion on the spot. Baldwin’s conduct is not befitting a great surgeon, especially a hot shot whose first day on the job established and cemented his reputation by saving a rape victim’s life.
There’s a red herring serial rapist thrown in to divert attention. Luckily Pullman’s desk lamp blows just in time to advance the story. A trek for a replacement bulb uncovers a youthful Tobin Bell. I can look at this guy for hours. His overall quiet, unsettling demeanor makes him a prime candidate to play people you don’t want to know. Another top talent, Bebe Neuwirth appears as the obligatory female cop/possible former girlfriend/friend from the neighborhood/secondary love interest waiting in the wings.
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Tags: alec baldwin, anne bancroft, bill pullman, George C. Scott, malice, malice review, Movie Review, Nicole Kidman, thriller