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Absence of Malice

1981

Sydney Pollack

Paul Newman, Sally Field, Melinda Dillon, Bob Balaban ...

6.3

2,605

Mystery While investigating the death of a local union leader, an ambitious young reporter (Sally Field as Megan) becomes involved in a dangerous triangle of love, deceit, and national espionage. After all story leads fall through, shady government agent Rosen cajoles Megan into befriending financier, Gallagher (Paul Newman), a man with filial ties to the Mafia. Becoming Gallagher's confidant, Megan conducts a secret investigation of his life ... [+]

	Author	Review
United States	Variety Staff Variety	"A splendidly disturbing look at the power of sloppy reporting to inflict harm on the innocent"	POS
United States	Janet Maslin The New York Times	"Even when the action seems wrongheaded—and it frequently does—the movie is richly textured and well played"	POS
United States	Pauline Kael The New Yorker	"Sydney Pollack's directing is efficient and the film is moderately entertaining, but it leaves no residue. Except for the intensity of Newman's sly, compact performance"	POS
United States	Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune	"A wildly overwritten melodrama about the sins of the press"	NEU
United States	Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times	it's absorbing and entertaining (...) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"	POS

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