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Absence of Malice (1981)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Release Date:
18 December 1981 (USA)
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Tagline:
Suppose you picked up this morning's newspaper and your life was a front page headline... And everything they said was accurate... But none of it was true. more
Plot:
Michael Colin Gallagher is the son of a long dead Mafia boss who is a simple liquor warehouse owner...
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Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars.
Another 3 wins
&
4 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Paul Newman: 1925 - 2008
(From IMDb News. 27 September 2008, 8:49 AM, PDT)
Stars Pay Tribute To Pollack
(From WENN. 27 May 2008, 5:15 AM, PDT)
(From IMDb News. 27 September 2008, 8:49 AM, PDT)
Stars Pay Tribute To Pollack
(From WENN. 27 May 2008, 5:15 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
The Fourth Estate on trial
more (52 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Paul Newman | ... | Gallagher |
 | Sally Field | ... | Megan |
 | Bob Balaban | ... | Rosen |
| Melinda Dillon | ... | Teresa |
| Luther Adler | ... | Malderone |
| Barry Primus | ... | Waddell |
| Josef Sommer | ... | McAdam |
| John Harkins | ... | Davidek |
| Don Hood | ... | Quinn |
| Wilford Brimley | ... | Wells |
| Arnie Ross | ... | Eddie Frost |
| Anna Marie Napoles | ... | Nickie |
 | Shelley Spurlock | ... | Sarah Wylie |
 | Shawn McAllister | ... | Hood 1 |
| Joe Petrullo | ... | Hood 2 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
116 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
South Korea:12 |
USA:PG (certificate #26332) |
Australia:PG |
Argentina:13 |
Chile:14 |
Finland:K-12 |
Norway:12 |
Sweden:11 |
UK:PG |
West Germany:12 |
Peru:14 |
Singapore:PG
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Paul Newman and director Sydney Pollack were both gourmet chefs and had a running culinary competition throughout filming with Sally Field as the judge. Though a good sport at first, Sally grew tired of eating gourmet night after night, and began begging off her judging duties in favor of hamburgers and omelettes at local diners.
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Goofs:
Factual errors: The union workers who struck Michael told him that if their union cards were pulled they would not be able to work anywhere. Florida is a right to work state and you don't need to have a union card to work. They would be considered "scabs" but they would be able to work at any dock in Miami.
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Quotes:
Michael Colin Gallagher:
Why aren't you married?
Megan Carter: How do you know I'm not?
Michael Colin Gallagher: I don't see a ring.
Megan Carter: Haven't you heard of women's lib?
Michael Colin Gallagher: Most of them are ugly.
Megan Carter: Is that supposed to be a compliment?
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Megan Carter: How do you know I'm not?
Michael Colin Gallagher: I don't see a ring.
Megan Carter: Haven't you heard of women's lib?
Michael Colin Gallagher: Most of them are ugly.
Megan Carter: Is that supposed to be a compliment?
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Time Chasers (#9.21)" (1997)
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FAQ
How does Megan get wind of the supposedly "secret" investigation of Michael Gallagher?Why is Michael Gallagher under investigation?
How does the movie end?
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more (52 total)
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Paul Newman and Sally Field, though somewhat opposites both in their roles as Michael Colin Gallagher and Megan Carter respectively and in real Hollywood life, mesh and make believable lovers. Megan tells Michael that she is 30 something and doesn't need courting to play in the hay. Michael retorts, "Maybe I do," and drives away. Megan winds up somewhat of a failure both as a newspaper hound and as a liberated female. Then along comes Wilford Brimley in a bit part and runs away with the show. That's saying a lot since the well chosen cast gives it all they've got including ace jobs by Bob Balaban and Melinda Dillon.
The essence of the film is "What is the nature of truth?" What we read in the paper ain't necessarily so. Jibes are poked at bureaucrats too who certainly have problems determining what is truth. As long as the paperwork looks good then so goes the world. With the Horatio Alger success formula still around in the world of big government and big business, empire builders are a dime a dozen. Usually their asses are saved by cover ups and fall guys. In "Absence of Malice" the innocent victim outsmarts the bureaucrats and the Fourth Estate to bring the house of cards down, certainly an anomaly in the 21th century as it was in 1981, maybe even more so.
Admittedly, the film becomes too preachy at times which not only grates on the nerves but also slows the picture down. Yet the well-written script and Sydney Pollack's knowing direction keep it from becoming a total disaster. Not on the level of Pollack's previous "Three Days of the Condor" or his next feature "Tootsie," "Absence of Malice" still packs a wallop.