SummaryA tale about a happily married couple who would like to have children. Tracy teaches art, Andy's a college dean. Things are never the same after she is taken to hospital and operated upon by Jed, a "know all" doctor.
Directed By:Harold Becker
Written By:Aaron Sorkin, Jonas McCord, Scott Frank
Malice
Metascore
Mixed or Average
52
User score
Generally Favorable
6.9
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
52
41% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
59% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
80
Much of the fun of Malice derives from Sorkin, Frank, and director Harold Becker understanding the been-there/done-that formulas of thrillers past and tinkering with them as much as possible. Instead of a little bit of misdirection, they devote a vast swath of the film to one.
70
The immaculately crafted Malice is a virtual scrapbook of elements borrowed from other suspense pix, but no less enjoyable for being so familiar.
63
It's a nifty piece of work. The tension builds nicely, the convoluted plot doubles back on itself, and for once the music score doesn't give everything away. Nothing groundbreaking here, understand. But a lot of fun. [01 Oct 1993, p.G5]
50
A tricky thriller, Malice begins well but betrays its coolly calculating premise and degenerates into a silly horror story.
50
Perhaps director Harold Becker thought flashy acting could distract us from the gaping plot holes. Becker gets so intent on confusing us, he forgets to give us characters to care about, the way he did in Sea of Love with Al Pacino. Malice is way out of that classy league. It’s got suspense but no staying power.
50
Malice is one of the busiest movies I've ever seen, a film jampacked with characters and incidents and blind alleys and red herrings. Offhand, this is the only movie I can recall in which an entire subplot about a serial killer is thrown in simply for atmosphere.
40
More than acting, the real culprit in Malice is the script by Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men) and Scott Frank (Dead Again) which favors florid dramatics over plausible theatrics.
User score
Generally Favorable
6.9
56% Positive
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
44% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Nov 24, 2024
6
Malice strives for twists throughout but fails to be entirely convincing. As a suspense film, its true appeal lies in engaging and persuading the audience with its story—a goal it falls short of achieving.
Mar 29, 2023
5
Sometimes I'm just a **** for 90's thrillers. I've always quite liked their atmosphere and this one, even with its various flaws, has it. The mystery itself give you much to dig into. If you're paying attention, the twist won't surprise you, but the tension is kept constant to ensure that the entertainment keeps working even when it wanders into melodramatic territory. Though I must emphasize that one key element of this particular film did disappoint me, and that was the performances.
Not that they are bad per se, but the three lead actors Alec Baldwin, Nicole Kidman and Bill Pullman seem to be acting on automatic mode without putting in any effort whatsoever.
You can argue that a script like this didn't need more, but I think better performances would have made this movie leave a better impression.
Production Company:
- Castle Rock Entertainment
- New Line Cinema
- Nelvana
Release Date:Oct 1, 1993
Duration:1 h 47 m
Rating:R
Tagline:Her doctor wasn't playing God. He thought he was God.
Awards
Cognac Festival du Film Policier
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
