Absence of Malice
1981 · Movie · PG · 116 min · ★ 6.6 · 73% critics
A newspaper reporter runs a damaging story about a man suspected in a serious crime, only to learn she’s been used and key details weren’t confirmed. As the fallout spreads and innocent people are pulled into the spotlight, she’s forced to confront what responsible reporting really means—and what happens when ambition outruns the truth.
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Details
- Years
- 1981
- Release date
- 1981-11-19
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG
- Runtime
- 116 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 73/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.6/10 (249 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a sober, character-driven drama about journalism, reputation, and consequences, with strong performances and a few lighter moments; Not for you if you want nonstop thrills or a romance-forward story like The Way We Were.
Pros: strong lead performances; thoughtful moral questions; tense newsroom drama | Cons: slow start; romance feels forced; message can repeat
Themes
- murder
- prosecutor
- newspaper reporter
- labor union
- legal thriller
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Actor · 1982 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actress · 1982 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Original Screenplay · 1982 · nominated
Cast & crew
Sally Field
as Megan Carter
Paul Newman
as Michael Colin Gallagher
Bob Balaban
as Elliott Rosen
Melinda Dillon
as Teresa Perrone
Luther Adler
as Santos Malderone
Barry Primus
as Robert Waddell
Josef Sommer
as McAdam
John Harkins
as Davidek
Don Hood
as James A. Quinn
Wilford Brimley
as James J. Wells
Directed by Sydney Pollack