Plot: What’s it about?
Andy (Bill Pullman) and his wife, Tracy (Nicole Kidman) live pretty normal lives, as he teaches at the local college and the two want to have some children soon. But the two don’t live in total paradise, as their debts are piling up fast and it seems like they’ll never be able to climb from under it all. As if that isn’t enough, their once serene New England town has become shattered by the news of a series of rapes and a murder, right in their own home town. The police have a list of suspects and while he is unsure why, Andy is among those they’re looking into involving the cases. Now in addition to his financial and legal issues, Andy has to deal with his wife’s illness, as her stomach cramps are getting worse all the time. When she goes to the hospital for surgery, she ends up under the blade of Dr. Jed Hill (Alec Baldwin), a new doctor and their lives are never the same. Jed has been fooling around with some of the nurses and seems smooth, but there is also a dark edge about him. How do all the pieces fit together in this town? Is Jed just a simple charmer? What will become of Tracy? Is Andy the man behind the surge of attacks on local coeds?
I know Hollywood seems to crank out suspense/thriller hand over fist and few of them turn out very well, but Malice is an exception to the norm. This film is a good example of how to create an effective, atmospheric suspense/thriller and it still stands up well against the current genre competition. The film has a loaded cast, top notch talent from top to bottom and with solid direction & writing mixed in, this one was solid gold from the start. The names present include Bill Pullman, Nicole Kidman, George C. Scott, Anne Bancroft, Alec Baldwin, and more, all of whom seem in fine form in this motion picture. Alec Baldwin steals the show in the end, but this cast is really superb and gives the film a rich, complex feel. The writing is above average for this genre, with some nice twists & turns thrown in and one heck of an ending tagged on. I wouldn’t say the ending is a shock by any means, but it is well planned and very effective. If you need a good suspense/thriller, then Malice would make a perfect choice. I think a rental will suffice in most cases, but MGM’s low asking price makes this one very tempting to own also.
As I mention above, Malice sports a very nice ensemble cast, but the director, Harold Becker also delivers on all counts. Becker and his crew conjure up some terrific atmosphere for this film and with all thrillers, suspense is vital and here, it is thick at all times. The visuals might not be as flashy as some films, but the dark, basic scheme works well here and I don’t think any changes are needed at all. Becker isn’t over stylized with this film, instead allowing the characters and storyline to be dominant, which I feel was the correct choice. Becker also directed such films as The Onion Field, Mercury Rising, Solo, Vision Quest, Sea of Love, and City Hall. The show stopper in Malice has to be Alec Baldwin (Talk Radio Pearl Harbor), who shines in his role as the surgeon with a dark persona, Dr. Jed Hill. Baldwin commands the screen here and I have to say, I think this is among his finest performances. The cast here also includes Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare In Love, Sliding Doors), Anne Bancroft (G.I. Jane, Home For The Holidays), Peter Gallagher (American Beauty), Nicole Kidman (Eyes Wide Shut, Dead Calm), George C. Scott (Patton), Bebe Neuwirth (Summer of Sam, The Faculty), and Bill Pullman (Titan A.E., Independence Day).
Video: How does it look?
Malice is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, with a full frame version included on the disc’s flip side. This is a very nice transfer and though some grain is evident at times, I have no real issues to report in this review. I think the source print looks clean and smooth, while compression errors were nowhere to be seen. The colors have a natural scheme, but still look bright and flesh tones seem warm & normal also. I did see some grain in darker scenes, but nothing extreme and the black levels were usually well balanced. I’ve never seen the film look this good, so fans should be very pleased.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included stereo surround track isn’t too active, but this film doesn’t call for much audio punch, so no real complaints. I will say that while this track is conservative at times, it does add a lot to the atmosphere of the film when needed and in this film, we want all the tension we can get, right? So the audio isn’t that dynamic, but it has the extra kick when it needs it, so I won’t knock the score that much. Also in fine form here is Jerry Goldsmith’s score, which is terrific and also adds a lot to the overall tone of the picture. I never had a problem with dialogue either, vocals are smooth and no volume issues surface. This disc also contains English captions and subtitles in French & Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The disc includes a rather unusual rental promotional trailer, which seems to be created for the owners of rental agencies. But it’s better than nothing I suppose, right?
